Worth being a bit cautious @bertrand-mabel, but I wouldn't worry too much - keep enjoying your browsing and posting, and most importantly your gardening!
You aren't alone @bertrand-mabel. I've responded on several occasions only to learn later that the query/post was a Spam. It doesn't really matter - the spam posts are usually picked up by Forum members and flagged and hopefully disappear. I agree it is a bit annoying that you waste your time tho
I had only been a member for a couple of days or so when I answered a spammer who had resurrected a thread. It looked ok to me but Fairygirl told me that it was someone who often resurrected threads and was thought to be a spammer. I don't answer them now.
It can certainly be difficult to spot some of them. It took me ages to be clued up on it until I started being more aware of their cheeky practices. The ones who post something seemingly genuine, then go back and insert a link within the edit time, are definitely sneakier. Or they quote someone else, reply to it, and put a link into the quoted post. Really sneaky!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
It doesn't really matter - the spam posts are usually picked up by Forum members and flagged and hopefully disappear.
I agree it is a bit annoying that you waste your time tho
The ones who post something seemingly genuine, then go back and insert a link within the edit time, are definitely sneakier. Or they quote someone else, reply to it, and put a link into the quoted post. Really sneaky!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...