• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Security & Privacy, Personal information, Stolen Identities, Protecting Our Family

skygear

skygear

Banned
Banned
Joined
Aug 1, 2015
Messages
27
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Location
FEMA Region III
Security & Privacy, Personal information, Stolen Identities, Protecting Our Family

When I registered to this board, I was asked for personal information and location identifiers. :shrug01:

For some, this is not an issue, you simply do not care about your security or privacy. :(

Identity Thieves can browse the board, find a name, location and username. Then cross-reference public records and get the rest of the personal info. Like, um, your ADDRESS, DOB, digging further, SS#, next of kin, family, etc. :NoNo:

I for one am NOT ok with that. I choose to use a pseudonym in real life and on the net on a day to day basis. :thumbsup:

Never has this become an issue in the past with all my dealings. I was given 24hrs to give my REAL name, that will be displayed on the open board in clear view for the world to see. Same with my REAL Location city, town. Or else I will be banned and deleted. :confused:


There is no feature enabled for the users on this board to hide location or name in the usercp section. We can change our location at will but not name. :eek:


I plead with you, all mighty admin. Up your security and protect your user base. Having our REAL NAMES and REAL LOCATION in plain sight is NOT Fair or safe. :NoNo:

If scamming is the issue, you have the IP and that is more than enough to have the authorities get their investigations in hand. :reddevil:

I searched for the right subform and this was really the only one I saw or found that fir the criteria. There was not a 'Board Suggestion' section. :angry:

:censored:


Please, everyone. I encourage you to voice your opinion on this matter and take better precautionary steps with your privacy and identity. voice your opinions and concerns here.
 
As for scamming, Do you really think a scammer would come up with an easily believable name/ alias? Something 'normal'? Yeah, I am the one and only skygear/ moto mike.

Not here to scam anyone, just looking for a couple snakes that retail for $100 each. Wouldn't risk jail time over $100. Thats Wire fraud since it would ship over state lines and a few other things. More importantly, too much time and effort to scam someone than I am willing to put in.

My original thread was in the testing area.


Also, I was infracted for my 'Wanted' post for not having a 'Real Name' - pseudonyms are used in publications, stage names, and many other things to help PROTECT peoples identities. I was infracted in my second post, in a thread from BHB for sale thread on the 2 snakes I have inquired about over a month ago over the phone and email with them. The infraction was due to my location being invalid.

Again, I still feel that this is unfair and there should be limits to what is mandatory on a board that is public for anyone to see even if they are NOT a user here. Major security/ privacy flaw.
 
I'm logging off now. I have to get some rest. Big day planned for the family. Cookout, beach, camping, and some new areas we are exploring. Looking for new Herps
 
Fauna requires that you provide factual information about your identity and location. That's just how it is. I doubt it's ever going to change. If that's not something you're willing to do, I guess you just won't be allowed to play in this sandbox.
 
Anyways, really logging off right now. I have 'lurked' on this board for a couple years and only registered this morning. My focus was my children and I missed out on a lot of interesting specimens over the years. Now, my children are sharing some of the same interests and have had their hearts set on a couple herps we cannot get locally and that are not readily found on the net through our searches.

That is why I decided to create my account here. I normally use the Tapatalk interface to browse the site and do not see all the stickies and suck all the time/. Mostly I look at the herps that interest my children and I, then watch as they slip away.
 
skygear said:
There should be exceptions and other considerations.

for instance, your profile name. http://web.co.lancaster.pa.us/454/Public-Records

I didn't search because I really do not care. This doesn't concern you in the least?
Click to expand...
That doesn't concern me at all. I've had my past dug up and thrown in my face already. I own everything I've ever done - the good with the bad. And if someone feels the need to come looking for me with bad intentions in mind, they may not like what they end up finding. I put conscious effort into not living in fear; let the chips fall where they may. In my mind, people who choose to hide are those who have the most to hide. I instinctively distrust overly secretive people.

I like the idea that the same rules are applied to all members. If exceptions are made for some, it'll likely trigger an avalanche of those who feel that they're also too special to have to abide by the rules. I prefer things the way they are.
 
I like the idea that the same rules are applied to all members. If exceptions are made for some, it'll likely trigger an avalanche of those who feel that they're also too special to have to abide by the rules. I prefer things the way they are.
Click to expand...
Yep, what Dan said.
 
skygear said:
Please, everyone. I encourage you to voice your opinion on this matter and take better precautionary steps with your privacy and identity. voice your opinions and concerns here.
Click to expand...

Power in numbers only works if you have the numbers, fella....
 
You people, wow. Take the internet too seriously. There is real and present danger with your Personal information. It should be the users choice to openly display it or not.

Rich, you must know the risks of the information you want all of the users to display. There is no way you can't know. At 65 (displayed age) there is no way you don't watch the news and see the risks the news people even say not to use!!! Let alone the police!

I am not one of these ponzi importer scammers. I am a local guy wanting to get a couple inexpensive snakes for his daughters,.
 
Talk about paranoia.

If someone wanted to find my information they could do so whether or not I have a fauna account lol. The point of requiring a real name and real location is so that people know who they're actually doing business with. I've actually looked people up based on their name and location to decide if I trusted them to send money for an animal. If I don't even know who you are, why would I want to do business with you?

As Dan said, if you feel it poses that great of a threat to your safety for people to know your name, you don't need to be here. There are other places you can be, I'm sure.
 
My question is this. If I am a buyer, and you are a retailer or breeder with good rep. Why would there be an issue.? I send money via PayPal, you and I are both protected. NOW, you know my name and info since PP shows all that.

I PP invoice people multiple times daily without issue. In the rare instance there is a discrepancy, we handle it through PP and the funds are reversed, refunded, or a case is made with supporting facts.
 
MCMB-2 said:
And I'm sure if you WERE a scammer you'd be the first to tell us, right?
Click to expand...

Traditionally a scammer would be as low key as possible. I am an in your face enthusiastic poster that voices my opinions publicly,.


From my dealings with scammers on boards I run, they have a go with the flow and blend into the crowd persona. Nothing that would trigger red flags in the registration process and bring attention to themselves.
 
skygear said:
My question is this. If I am a buyer, and you are a retailer or breeder with good rep. Why would there be an issue.? I send money via PayPal, you and I are both protected. NOW, you know my name and info since PP shows all that.

I PP invoice people multiple times daily without issue. In the rare instance there is a discrepancy, we handle it through PP and the funds are reversed, refunded, or a case is made with supporting facts.
Click to expand...

That's actually not true. There are people who will send funds via paypal and then reverse the transaction, or claim that the charges made were fraudulent, or any number of other excuses to have the payment reversed. It might end up working out fine for the seller, but it will be a HUGE headache either way. If I can look you up and make sure you sound like a legitimate person, then I will do business with you.

I have sold a lot of animals online. I ALWAYS look up the buyer to make sure that they don't have a history of screwing people over. It is simply good business sense to avoid feeling like an idiot later. If you asked to buy something from me and told me your name was moto mike from FEMA Region III, I literally wouldn't even respond to you.

I don't think you understand how safe people play things in the reptile world. If ANYTHING seems fishy or out of place, I will back out of the transaction. End of story.
 
skygear said:
Traditionally a scammer would be as low key as possible. I am an in your face enthusiastic poster that voices my opinions publicly,.


From my dealings with scammers on boards I run, they have a go with the flow and blend into the crowd persona. Nothing that would trigger red flags in the registration process and bring attention to themselves.
Click to expand...

That's also not true. You haven't been here very long.
 
I'm not going to argue this with you any more, either you'll put your real name and location or I won't see you again. Doesn't matter to me either way, just telling you the facts.
 
The difference is this though. If I wanted to do business with someone, I would PM them and introduce myself. Divulging my real name and contact details.

If I found you on the net and emailed you, or called. You wouldn't have any reference to base a transaction off of.

In the instance of your site in particular, If I wanted a python or boa, I would call and do business over the phone. Again, most likely introducing myself as 'Mike' and giving you my real details and CC info that matches that. OR under my business name "Moto Mike" or the other "skygear" and conduct business as usual.


I know some of the reptiles are tens of thousands. I am trying to track down a $100 specimen, then buy 2 of them. Leucistic Rat & Melanistic Rat - Nothing like a high end ball or boa.
 
I understand what you're saying, but from my understanding (and correct me if I'm wrong Rich), the fact that people post their name and location has NEVER led to any form of identity theft on this site. I personally have my business email, personal cell number, and picture of myself available on my website that is posted at the bottom of every single one of my posts. The fact of the matter is, I have nothing to hide. I am completely transparent with people because that's the sort of business I believe in.

I have had people who I have never spoken with call me or email me with questions about snakes. It has never been an issue. If they're looking to buy, I usually tell them to text me or email me with details (so that it is documented), but there is absolutely no need for someone to send me a formal message first to introduce themselves. I don't need to know someone's life story to give them a snake, I just won't deal with someone that sounds fishy from the get go. That's all there is to it.
 
MCMB-2 said:
That's also not true. You haven't been here very long.
Click to expand...

Nope, I haven't been. I have stuck to the for sale sections for YEARS just looking at Pics not getting involved in the politics of things. We are ready to get what we had our hearts set on and thus why I registered. I see people upset over scammers. I am not an 18 year old trying to impress some high school sweet heart, nor a middle aged man having a mid life crisis over a $5000 reptile.

MCMB-2 said:
I'm not going to argue this with you any more, either you'll put your real name and location or I won't see you again. Doesn't matter to me either way, just telling you the facts.
Click to expand...

I understand and still anyone could give a false name upon registration is my point here. No one would be the wiser. Anyone could put in a false location or use a proxy to spoof the IP location so everything seems in line. If someone was going after some high dollar animals or scamming, that would be a method I could see people using.
 
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