Bots

[Richard230]

I sometimes have problems deciding if a post from a new member is made by a bot or not. Apparently, I am not the only one. According to an article in my newspaper yesterday, written by four reporters and published by "CalMatters", Bots are starting to infiltrate state educational systems, specifically community colleges. Due to online learning, which is the result of pandemic regulations, bots designed in India are enrolling in colleges in an attempt to bilk taxpayers out of millions of dollars in financial aid.

At least 10 college districts have told CalMatters that they have experienced increases in fake applications, registrations, financial aid filings or some combination of the three. It is estimated that about 20% of the traffic coming into the system's online application portal is from bots and other "malicious" actors. Bots are filling up classes, in some cases preventing real students from enrolling. They say the community college system is being targeted partly because it's open enrollment and doesn't have an application fee.

In California, community colleges will receive at least $4.3 billion in federal emergency relief this year, of which $1.75 billion will go directly to students - and apparently bots, too. Just one community college district flagged nearly 40K fake applications for the fall 2020 semester. All of which had to be dug out of their system. But by the time that was done, it was too late for real students to enroll in classes.

[Richard230]

Here is more quoted information from the article: "A quick search on YouTube shows countless videos detailing how to make fraudulent student accounts to get a .edu email address for free or discounted access to software, online shopping and digital music.

In a video from 'Targetter', a YouTuber who appears to be based in India, he walks his 70,000 viewers through the process of obtaining a .edu email using a bot downloadable from his account bio.

'It's all automated, you don't need to do anything' the YouTuber says as a code scrolls in a pop-up window. Another pop-up screen provides options to 'enroll' at one of four listed California community colleges...

'All I have to do now is just sit back and relax', he says as the bot populates a Contra Costa College application with fake personal information. Within seven minutes, Targetter' had enrolled at Contra Costa College as Ivan N. Atkinson for the fall 2020 term."

Fortunately, the colleges are now on to that particular scam and have put a stop to it, but new ones are being created all the time.

[rcb78]

The key is almost always found in context, bots still seem to be pretty bad when it comes to the continuity of context. Occasionally a non-native speaker may make a post that is questionable, but a quick review of their other posts usually clears them as a real person vs bot.

[NikkiBella]

agree
but that time is coming
where bots will took over

[MGD109]

agree
but that time is coming
where bots will took over

Not until your algorithm results in

Agree!
But that time is coming when bots will take over.

[Richard230]

I really hate watching the Terminator movies.

[Daboo]

You could always switch to "Enemy of the State". Maybe these bots are combing the Internet looking for the nefarious plots Richard230 is up to?

Chris

[Dalesman]

NikkiBella. Are you a bot