# ⚠️ ATTENTION COMMUNITY: New AI-Assisted Spam Tactics **URL:** \ **Category:** Moderators Announcements\ **Tags:** off-topic\ **Created:** [January 11, 2026, 12:02pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034 "2026-01-11T12:02:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dijker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dijker](https://community.homey.app/u/Dijker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 12:02pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/1 "2026-01-11T12:02:07Z")
**⚠ ATTENTION COMMUNITY: New AI-Assisted Spam Tactics** We have observed a surge in sophisticated spam accounts using AI to bypass traditional filters. Please be vigilant regarding the following patterns: - **The “Expert Advice” Trap:** Users posting detailed requests for “Best [Device Type]” or “Expert Recommendations” that sound helpful or inquisitive but are designed to prime a thread for links. - **The “Slow-Burn” Edit:** Spammers are posting legitimate-looking comments and returning days later to edit in suspicious or malicious links once the initial oversight period has passed. - **AI-Generated Tone:** Be wary of overly formal, repetitive, or slightly “off” language that mimics human helpfulness but lacks specific community context. **How to Stay Safe:** - **Hover before clicking:** Always check the destination URL of any link. - **Report Suspicious Edits:** If you see an old post suddenly updated with commercial links, use the **Report** button immediately. - **Verify Recommendations:** Only trust links from established community members with a proven posting history. To report ongoing issues or learn more about online safety, you can visit the Federal Trade Commission’s guide on spotting scams. Stay sharp and help us keep our forum clean! AI responses may include mistakes. [Learn more about the Google AI I used to create above post 😉](https://support.google.com/websearch?p=aimode) \> create a warning for the Forum users about Spammers using AI and asking for Best-Device Type and Expert recommendations requested suspicious links (even sometimes adding the links after days) ---
**Author:** ![Dijker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dijker](https://community.homey.app/u/Dijker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 12:12pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/2 "2026-01-11T12:12:09Z")
Going to link to this post when I think is is a suspicious topic/post. Please do not react in that topic regarding my link, unless you are the Topic Starter and a legitimate Homey user but then PM me with some info only a Human with a Homey can provide. If you also think the topic or post I reply on is Spam and should be removed like ❤ my post/reply in that topic. (And when answering a post from a malicious intent, what can happen and isn’t forbidden, but you may help them get clicks/earn affiliate money/ get hot links etc… ) ---
**Author:** ![Dijker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dijker](https://community.homey.app/u/Dijker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 12:22pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/3 "2026-01-11T12:22:24Z")
Examples are links to popular commercial sites but hiding the affiliate info ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/d/f/dfd115412ba61569ee85da8a1a1619dd4c65f0e8.png) or even use redirect services that stop functioning (maybe abused?) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/e/3/e351df6afbcc7fd5715c3deaf986e6a7e6f1f2e7.png) Edit: and to put in perspective, I found this kind of links followed ~50 times or more by members in posts slipped through that existed more than half a year. Excuses from the Discourse AI that put you the new user on pause, for typing to fast or using to many links etc… AI is not perfect ( 🙏) usually we (the Human moderators) release you within hours or a day max. pls be patient. ---
**Author:** ![DaneedeKruyff](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/daneedekruyff/32/964_2.png) [@DaneedeKruyff](https://community.homey.app/u/DaneedeKruyff)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 12:39pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/4 "2026-01-11T12:39:26Z")
Skynet is taking over! 😂 Seriously, thanks to all moderators for spending their time to keep this community sane! ---
**Author:** ![Undertaker](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/undertaker/32/53278_2.png) [@Undertaker](https://community.homey.app/u/Undertaker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 12:45pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/5 "2026-01-11T12:45:09Z")
I translated it into German, posted it, and linked to this thread. We can’t assume that everyone uses DeepL when they don’t understand a language. ---
**Author:** ![John\_William\_Brekke](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/john_william_brekke/32/111887_2.png) [@John\_William\_Brekke](https://community.homey.app/u/John_William_Brekke)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 11:57am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/6 "2026-01-16T11:57:59Z")
I never expected spammers or bots on a smart home community place… ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 11:58am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/7 "2026-01-16T11:58:27Z")
That’s something a spambot would say… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![John\_William\_Brekke](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/john_william_brekke/32/111887_2.png) [@John\_William\_Brekke](https://community.homey.app/u/John_William_Brekke)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 11:59am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/8 "2026-01-16T11:59:43Z")
🤣💀 hahahahahaha but for real though. Why are there bots in a SMART HOME community. ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 12:00pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/9 "2026-01-16T12:00:21Z")
Many people are looking for tips on what types of devices to buy, so could be an easy target. ---
**Author:** ![John\_William\_Brekke](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/john_william_brekke/32/111887_2.png) [@John\_William\_Brekke](https://community.homey.app/u/John_William_Brekke)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 12:01pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/10 "2026-01-16T12:01:29Z")
True. Luckily i’ve seen none so far, but can’t they just stick to facebook, tiktok and youtube?? i’m getting sick of these bots .\_. (no more bots pls) ---
**Author:** ![smarthomesven](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/smarthomesven/32/79712_2.png) [@smarthomesven](https://community.homey.app/u/smarthomesven)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 12:09pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/11 "2026-01-16T12:09:15Z")
I have also seen a lot of spam bots on the TP-Link forum, it seems that spamming forums is very popular for scammers. ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 12:09pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/12 "2026-01-16T12:09:26Z")
I’ve seen a few, also posts that _look_ like genuine responses to questions (which can easily be modified after the fact to contain spam links). ---
**Author:** ![John\_William\_Brekke](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/john_william_brekke/32/111887_2.png) [@John\_William\_Brekke](https://community.homey.app/u/John_William_Brekke)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 12:24pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/13 "2026-01-16T12:24:34Z")
☹ ---
**Author:** ![John\_William\_Brekke](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/john_william_brekke/32/111887_2.png) [@John\_William\_Brekke](https://community.homey.app/u/John_William_Brekke)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 12:25pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/14 "2026-01-16T12:25:04Z")
😧 ---
**Author:** ![Undertaker](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/undertaker/32/53278_2.png) [@Undertaker](https://community.homey.app/u/Undertaker)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 12:38pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/15 "2026-01-16T12:38:29Z")
Normally, we should open a separate thread where everyone can post the bots. Idiots and cheaters deserve no mercy! ![91891b01ca8f91c1f9072f77bec140dc_w200](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/e/6/e63f0bfad90c33d1daf0fca638590b48ecb012af.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Dijker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dijker](https://community.homey.app/u/Dijker)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 3:46pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/16 "2026-01-16T15:46:59Z")
The two or three India or Pakistan based a day are most easy. Special if they start with links or phone numbers. Then we see a couple using VPN from USA or some Europe countries. Some legitimate users create a post offline, then register and paste… they are blocked by help of AI to be released by moderators. But we need to decide if it is a potential spammer or not. ---
**Author:** ![John\_William\_Brekke](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/john_william_brekke/32/111887_2.png) [@John\_William\_Brekke](https://community.homey.app/u/John_William_Brekke)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 3:52pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/attention-community-new-ai-assisted-spam-tactics/149034/17 "2026-01-16T15:52:51Z")
Ohhh i see.