Unusual

Hi Jacqui,  yes, that user has been blocked from the network, so don't respond to her.  The network is public, so it's always a good rule to not give out any personal details (including your email address) to anyone who contacts you by personal message (a genuine user has no need for your email address as they can contact you through the network personal messaging system).

Here's the link to the post on how to deal with spam if you want a refresh: http://www.bcna.org.au/network/groups/54/blog/4735.  Hope that helps, but do ask if you have any questions.

Di.

Yes I once had a request to be a contact  from someone I'd never heard of on this network.I declined the request saying I didn't know them but was happy to correspond via the bcna network and not personal email.That was the end of it,never heard back. Glad you are off the leash till July.That gives you a whole 5mths to go crazy! Hope you are feeling a whole lot better and your hair is growing-too hot for headgear.

                                    Tonya xx

Hi Jacqui - yes I got caught out on this one! Being like minded I thought it was genuine UNTIl I got the email (I could have kicked my self sensless!) so I reported it right away and blocked them.............made me very uneasy for a day or two and I kept turning my modem off - to add to this I upgraded my anti-virus, but gee - who'd have seen that coming! x x x cheers Josie

Hi girls,  Yes I got "caught" as well.  Being a kind hearted person I gave "her" the benefit of the doubt UNTIL the mention of money.  I knew for sure then.  Not everyone in this world is genuine.  We do have to be really careful and go with our gut feelings. XLeonie

Must admit I feel better knowing that I was not the only person to fall but can't believe that people would prey on us when we are at a very vunerable stage, not for one moment did I think it was a scam until she said she was 24 and the christmas tree bauble behind her said it was 2000 and the provocative picture would have been appropriate for a playboy magazine.....oh well lesson learnt never let your guard down on the internet but didn't expect it on this web site...no critisism to this site......... just felt really violated as you tend to open your heart up sometimes on here and to think that some low life people are reading it is so sick,sick,sick wish there was some way to protect this site and us from these type of people, if this had happened while I was having chemo I would have been devastated and feeling so low during chemo would have felt it not safe to pour my heart out as we all need to do during that very hard time, hope that this doesn't happen to someone during that time that like me being isolated found this site so fantastic to have it ruined by some thoughtless, self centred brainless excuse for a human being.............ok I am now offically of my soapbox

Jacqui xxxx

You are fine Jacqui - am having issues with crap neighbours (you probably saw my blog) and I was on my soap box, this site is one place that you can pour out your heart.............and no body minds less judge you, so these scammers are pathetic and it just proves what I was talking about on my blog about people not caring - yep, there are some hyena's out there, who only think of themselves - you just wonder, where is the justice? Well you keep talking to us - get back on that soap box girl! Yay! x x x 

Hi Jacqui, i had two P/M from that name a couple of weeks back. I really thought it strange how they asked for my email address because they wanted to become friends.   I just deleted it and did not reply. I felt a bit guilty though. Nothing is safe these days hey! ... Cheers Jo

Me Too. But Just reponded with network stuff. Good on you Di for looking sfter us Hugs Lovelockx

Hi everyone, just thought I'd reassure you that the site is secure, and other users don't have access to your personal data unless you give it to them (ie, if you correspond by personal message, then no-one sees your email address). 

If you're worried about what people can see, then check the privacy settings in your profile (anything set to 'private' doesn't show up to other users). Have a read of this post on privacy settings if you want to know more: http://www.bcna.org.au/network/groups/54/blog/4433.

The general rule, with any online environment, is that you should only reveal information about yourself that you feel comfortable sharing (mostly it's common sense, for example we don't recommend that you share your phone number in a public blog post ). 

If you want to correspond with another user, then we recommend you do it through the tools the network provides such as blog posts, comments and personal messages until you know them better, as none of those methods will reveal your email address or any other private data (it's okay to exchange email and/or phone details with someone you know).   Hope that helps you not stress out too much. :)

Also, yes, the site is indexed by Google.  We allow that because it's important that those looking for information on breast cancer can find us as our main purpose is to provide information and support.  The way that Google works is for most popular sites to rank highly, and so they will appear at the top of search results (our site is popular, so it often ranks highly for any search).

Again, hope that's all useful information and helps you not to worry too much.   If there's anything else you'd like to know, then just ask (either here, or else you're most welcome to email or phone )

Di

I am so sorry I meant no criticism of this wonderful site, it was my own stupidity that was at fault and not thinking the message through, being hoodwinked into answering this low life person was my own fault, and my compassionate nature, thinking I could help her, my criticism was meant at people like her preying on vulnerable people.

I think this is a fantastic site and am sorry if I have put anyone in doubt of how much it has helped me cope with a very difficult time and even made it a much easier journey, I can't thank the people I have had the great pleasure of being on the receiving end of thier non stop help at the most important times during this very stressful time.

Just be aware of people like Ruthbaby or whoever as we should all be in any communication we have on the internet anyway.

Take care everyone and words can't cover how much I appreciate everyone that has helped me and the people that have taken the time to make this site available for us.

Cheerio Love Jacqui xxxxxxx