Banning look-alike characters in usernames

[botany]

The fact that PMs from Newbies come with warnings, and you have to be at least full member before you can have an avatar mitigate the problem of impersonation to some extent.
We had a lot more impersonation scams before that newbie message was implemented.

[1714730208]

1714730208

[guitarplinker]

The fact that PMs from Newbies come with warnings, and you have to be at least full member before you can have an avatar mitigate the problem of impersonation to some extent.
We had a lot more impersonation scams before that newbie message was implemented.

That is true, but I've seen a couple of impersonation attempts where the impostor is bold enough to post in the original seller's thread trying to lure a user into sending them funds, so the Newbie warning message isn't shown. I think Operatr's idea of having a confirmed/verified account sounds like a good idea (much better than the idea I proposed earlier in this thread).

[OgNasty]

I waste so much time simply having to respond to people that I am not users that pretend to be me...

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=831944

Seems like something could be done.  Perhaps the fee to start a new account through TOR or the banning of IPs needs to be a bit more aggressive.

[Chris!]

Going to bump this old thread because it just makes sense.

I could literally make infinite OgNasty accounts right now that would be

OgNasty        .
OgNasty       .
OgNasty           ,
OgNasty                ,
OgNaßty
OqNasty
OgNāsty
OgÑasty
OgNästy
OgNasfy
0gNásty

I mean the list could go on forever. I think special characters should = characters and spaces should have a limit (one or 2 spaces. I never see a reason for more in a name).

Also, make any font show zeros like ∅ and O's like O. Same with I(eye) vs l (elle).

It seems so simple but will save a lot of newbies from being scammed.

[sumangs]

They should be aware of look-alike usernames. They could click the link in the name to know if the look-alike is legit or fake. Just use common sense if the user has suspected motive, then that is fake. Also, that look alike usernames are easily to recognized if you are a keen observer in this forum.

[millgates]

Look-alike characters in usernames do need attention. I think the best way is to manually report  the account so that the owner of this forum can ask the owner of that account to change it. Or forum gives special a mark like a checkmark. Like twitter does. But only for important accounts.

[gollum23]

They should be aware of look-alike usernames. They could click the link in the name to know if the look-alike is legit or fake. Just use common sense if the user has suspected motive, then that is fake.