# i'm under attack (aol instant messenger)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-under-attack-aol-instant-messenger/212339
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 10, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-under-attack-aol-instant-messenger/212339 "2003-11-10T03:31:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@aaaaaarrgg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaaaaarrgg)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-under-attack-aol-instant-messenger/212339/1 "2003-11-10T03:31:46Z")
so about a week or two ago, i started getting instant messenges from strangers that ended up being links to porn sites. it’s happened on occasion before, and i always just blocked the person and it went away. but now i am getting about 10 different people a day and it’s starting to really bother me.
is there any way to stop this problem? it’s always from the same 5 names or so with different numbers after, so these people have tons of handles…no matter how many times i warn and/or block them, they keep sending me more messenges.
if anyone knows how to stop this, i’ll be eternally grateful.
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### Author:  [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-under-attack-aol-instant-messenger/212339/2 "2003-11-10T03:34:56Z")
You can go into your settings and make it so that you only accept messages from members of your Buddy List. That’d be the easiest way.
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### Author:  [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-under-attack-aol-instant-messenger/212339/3 "2003-11-10T03:35:52Z")
Change your name, and make sure everybody who matters knows about it. It could be something as simple as adding a number to your screenname, but it should end the carnage.
Until they find the next name, that is.
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### Author:  [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-under-attack-aol-instant-messenger/212339/4 "2003-11-10T03:40:14Z")
I’m sorry to tell you this, but your name has somehow gotten onto a sucker list. Spammers trade/sell these lists among themselves. The most effective way of dealing with this is to switch to another screen name for a while. That might not be practical, however. Are you on AOL, or are you using AIM? There’s different methods of handling the spammers depending on which one you’re on.
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### Author:  [@aaaaaarrgg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaaaaarrgg)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-under-attack-aol-instant-messenger/212339/5 "2003-11-10T04:15:04Z")
i’m on instant messenger. and i thought of changing my name, but i’ve had it for a really long time and i really don’t want to part with it. dumb as that sounds. i might try accepting from only members on my buddy list.
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### Author:  [@aaaaaarrgg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaaaaarrgg)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-under-attack-aol-instant-messenger/212339/6 "2003-11-10T04:17:34Z")
aim, that is, not aol.
and thanks everyone!
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2003, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-under-attack-aol-instant-messenger/212339/7 "2003-11-10T07:20:40Z")
Mine just started back up too. It seems to come in waves. I’ll get 5 or so a day for a week or two, then none for 3-4 months so normally I just ride it out.
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### Author:  [@Duderdude2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duderdude2)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2003, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-under-attack-aol-instant-messenger/212339/8 "2003-11-10T07:59:44Z")
Yeah, i just started getting several the last few days. Pain in the ass.