Do you check IPs of newcomers?

[Katrina]

When you get new members to register, do you ever look at their IP addresses to learn more about them?

 

[Ravenfreak]

Yep I do this all the time when a new member tries to join RPG Haven. Most of the time they're a spam account so I immediately ban and delete their account.

 

[cpvr]

Yes, I have a habit of checking IPs of all my new members. I also approved new members as well.

 

[zappaDPJ]

Every registration on all of the forums I'm involved with or own has their IP, username and email addressed checked.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Only when I can't decide if they could be a spammer or not.

Otherwise, I just accept them and see what happens.

I have it set to manually approve all new members on all my forums.

It's the best way to deal with spammers, IMO.

 

[Page]

I used to, however, why would you need to do that?

 

[Cory]

I do not, unless something suspicious/malicious is going on at the time.

 

[Baw$e]

Yes, because I want to ensure my members are unique, especially in poker, where money is involved, and to maintain a safe and secure environment for all players.

 

[Nebulous]

I used to do this all the time when I was fully invested in the forum world. I knew every person's pattern of speech, preferred VPN's and actual IP addresses.

 

[Uncrowned Guard]

I’ve started scanning new members too, but I focus a lot more on the username and email than the IP itself. The biggest red flags for me are things like dropping links in the “About” section without ever posting, mismatched usernames/emails, or profiles that look auto‑generated. Those patterns tell me far more than an IP ever will.

For IPs, I generally don’t take action unless the account is actually posting spam. I almost never IP‑ban someone just for registering. Before I ban an IP, I’ll usually check whether it’s a VPN, hosting provider, or Tor exit node, especially if the account is throwing a bunch of red flags but is acting somewhat legit. That helps me avoid banning someone who might just be privacy‑conscious.

So, for me, it’s more about the overall behavior and signals rather than treating the IP as the deciding factor. The IP is just one piece of the puzzle, not the whole picture.

 

[Nomad]

I don't usually check IPs but I will check the email domain, I do not accept emails that use "unusual" domain.