Don't allow users to create Fitbit accounts unless they have Fitbit devices

[nit3ghadge]

Fitbit should allow profile creation only for those users who has FitBit device. I'm seeing lot of fake profiles which send request and ask for things like cam chat, marriage, trading, binary and all other unnecessary things which are out of this platform. This annoys a lot as you need to keep on marking them as bad profile.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[ALP1961]

I hope something is done. We have already lost great members because of this problem. I hammer all of them I can but they keep coming in. At one point I was getting roughly 9 requests a day. I would guess that 98% of them are gone now. 

[SunsetRunner]

I also receive at least 5 requests a day from scammers and creepers.

This is out of control!  I really like this app, but I am fed up of dealing men who make me all kinds of proposals (not only by message, in posts also.

They need to do something instead of saying we have to report and block all those crap!!!

[SunsetRunner]

The community has changed so much since I first started using it in 2018. It was once so supportive and encouraging. It is starting to become toxic and negative. So many of the posts are about scammers not exercise and it is now one of the main topics of conversation. I got called a scammer the other day and trolled by someone, as despite clearly having steps and trophies I was accused and berated as being a scammer because I did not post my workouts in open groups. I do not post my workoutS in open groups because when I have I get 15-20 scammer friend requests, so like many people on here had to stop. This is a good example of how suspicious of each other people have become and how sad it is that the app has gone this way. I know people who are leaving as they are sick of the romance scammers,  forex sellers and those posting porn pictures for ‘hook ups’ we report, we block, we report every day but they still come as there is nothing to stop them. 

[AmyM]

Anyone wishing to explore their purchase options can do what those purchasing any other product would do: go to the company website, look at the various devices and services available, and do their own research by looking at product reviews. It is Fitbit’s responsibility to advertise their products and services on their webpage and in the app stores without putting their current members who already own devices at risk by allowing carte blanch access to the Fitbit community.  More often than not, the people who wish to gain access to the Fitbit community are looking for targets to scam than information on purchasing a Fitbit.  All you have to do is read the comments in this thread to see the truth of this and how much of a problem it has become.  This loathsome situation has reached a point where Fitbit will actually begin losing more current customers because of it than gaining new ones.  While it’s true that scammers are crawling all over the internet, by limiting use of the Fitbit app and access to the Fitbit community to those who actually own a Fitbit device, the vast majority of scammers will not bother trying to gain access, and the few who do manage to slither under the door will not be nearly as overwhelming.  Legitimate Fitbit users have paid good money for their devices and deserve the opportunity to enjoy the Fitbit community without being continually harassed by scammers to the point where many users no longer feel comfortable posting.  I, for one, have been forced to contend with an enormous amount of scammers, but have not come across even one person just looking for input on purchasing a Fitbit device.  

[ArchieMIA]

It is really sad that Fitbit does not take any action on this. If you see my history I have posted my activity for years. 
This week I opened an account with Strava, and my Fitbit ionic sync with them. I have found personal friends there and basically it is focus more on activity, which is what everybody is looking here, I think. the person responsible in Fitbit of the way the company has gone down, unfortunately is his CEO, that he is not clear of the vision of the company and its direction. We have posted for weeks messages about the scammers and they have done nothing 

[Angeni8tala]

Please allow for mobile track to stay as an option for those who can no longer use their device.

[ALP1961]

Fitbit was created to track with their devices. Now you want to do an
end run around for everyone's safety? Scammers will eat that up and this
Will Never stop. I like Our Community of true Fitbitters. If your device
dies do what everyone else does and get another one.

Alan L Patrick

[ArchieMIA]

I think that it is not an issue of mobile track with the App.when I ran out of battery in my smart watch I use the App. The problem here is people that don’t have any activity and start scamming people. 

[AmyM]

I agree.  I feel Fitbit owes its allegiance to those who have purchased Fitbit devices and is responsible for keeping its legitimate community members safe.  A good number of Fitbit users are being harassed and no longer even feel comfortable posting within the community.  By allowing those without devices access to the Fitbit app and community, such as with mobile track, Fitbit is also allowing scammers unfettered access to the Fitbit community members and allowing them to be used as targets for these scams.  Anyone without access to a Fitbit device can use numerous other apps for that purpose.  

[Tdubs79]

Fitbit - We are voicing concern.. What is the plan to protect your customer from predators? I bought your product with the intention of utilizing the platform for this fitness community and it is infested with online predators that you give free reign to!  This is unacceptable.  

Moderator Edit: Formatting

[Odyssey13]

Online predator problems exit everywhere and not just here. Everyone who is a member of a forum needs to learn to ignore these pests. Just as we ignore the calls on our phones, despite using the Do Not Call program from the US government, the calls continue. I get a lot of spam but there's not much that can be done to stop it.  It's part of the online life and it's up to the individual to do their best to block or ignore them. Some members have posted they interacted with these people and really, that's not wise. It's one thing if you're in the same country with someone, but it's much harder when they are in another part of the world. Law enforcement can only do so much and there are tens of thousands of forums, if not more. Here's a true story from my not paying attention while answering my phone. I couldn't see the screen and was expecting a call, so I answered. It was one of those car warranty places. My mistake in answering has lead to many calls daily since then. Not answering any of them, the calls have dwindled over four months, but responding to one and quickly hanging up resulted in many unwanted calls. Same with the people who approach forum members - give them a response and they share that with others, resulting in even more people hitting on you. Ignore the predators, scammers, whatever you want to call them and they will eventually move on to greener pastures.

[SunsetRunner]

This was in the news today...all the same scams and problems...

'Creepy men' message women on Scrabble Go app https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-53888148

[nit3ghadge]

I'm chasing this for very long time. I don't know what fitbit team is doing on this ?

[ALP1961]

I'm not sure they are taking it seriously at all. Every person I report as
Spam I include how to stop the majority of them from getting in. Yet here
we are with Nothing being changed. When Google got involved it got worse
Not better. I'm looking for a NEW platform that truly cares about the
safety of their members and their Community

Alan L Patrick

[SunsetRunner]

All of us are tired of dealing with scammers and creepers.

I am also thinking to quit this app and look for another who takes our needs seriously.

[AmyM]

Just because scammers exist everywhere doesn’t make it acceptable, and Fitbit users, interested in improving their fitness and who have paid good money for their trackers for that purpose, should not be forced to deal with this heinous problem day in and day out within the Fitbit community when our only interest is health and fitness.  Fitbit sells activity trackers and their community should be closed to anyone who does not own one.  There’s no reason for anyone not owning a Fitbit device to have carte blanche access to the Fitbit community; it would keep the vast majority of scammers out, and there are plenty of other platforms out there that can be used by those wanting to track their fitness goals without a Fitbit device.

[llisalou]

You can use your mobile as a tracker you just have to keep it on you when exercising.  It just doesn't do the heart rate etc. I think there could be a time scale on just using the mobile app,  How long does it take to decide if you want to purchase an actual Fitbit?

[05ballardb]

I have had the same problem to the extent that I just don’t accept requests anymore unless they are from someone that has taken part in a challenge I have been invited to.

One of the simplest deterrents Fitbit could implement is using a phone number verification step as people who are creating fake accounts have to verify a mobile number by responding to a text message.

Accounts in the past that have been linked to scam activity could then be matched to a phone number and any verifications attempted by the same number could get automatically rejected resulting in the profile creation page locked out for that IP address for 15 minutes.

This verification also works as a two step verification process allowing someone to access their account if they have forgotten their password through one time passcodes.

The verification still allows people who are interested in using the app for its intended purpose to still use their phone’s accelerometer and gps as part of mobiletrack.

[llisalou]

05ballardb
I am still getting requests from people who are using other people's photos.  They shouldn't be allowed on Fitbit as a dating site.  It makes it hard for genuine Fitbit users.
llisalou
 

[trkrao]

Yes. Totally agree . I think Fitbit can give some unique id , like Unique mobile devise ID Which can be mapped to individuals while registering itself . This way Fitbit can know , how many are active , how many devices stopped and how many in store . Of course there may be sizeable who don’t register . But still a good measure 

[SunsetRunner]

I agree also.  If you open a Fitbit account you must proof you have a device and they must sent us a cellphone verification code to start using Fitbit app.

I still receive at least 5 contact requests from creepers, scammers and people with no activity.

[ALP1961]

I accept them, play their game for a bit to see if they are real or
fake. If fakes I report them, wait on profile pic to go to default, then
remove and block them. This way I know they are out of circulation for a
little while.

If we want to maintain a safe Community it has come down to the Real
members to keep it that way. If you just Block them they move on to someone
else. The past 6 months to a year has been the worst in my opinion. Been
here since 2015 so I've seen plenty come and go....

Alan L Patrick

[05ballardb]

I think that in addition to the mobile phone number verification step I suggested earlier it would be worth also considering a badge for the people’s profiles who are verified Fitbit users or premium users since those that have underwent verification steps to confirm their identity and those that pay for the yearly membership are unlikely to be scammers.

The badge can be linked to safe search technology and can be used as a means to block requests from non verified and non premium users

[TinaKatz]

It seems that scammers have trackers now because I've noticed that some of them have badges and trophies listed in their dashboard publicly. For example, someone going by the name of "Harriet Davison" texted me saying, "Call me David by name," is using Dr. Fernando Gnomes Pinto's image has badges and trophies in their badge collection. Another scammer, using Joe Cross's image, named "Mark", is a widower whose wife died in a car accident and works on an oil rig, also has badges and trophies in his dashboard collection. Beware that they are becoming more sophisticated.

[SunsetRunner]

I am tired of reading the same story: militaries making contact.  Widowers whose wives died of cancer or in a car crash and with a little kid in a boarding school whom they can’t take care because they live far away from them.

”I completely fell in love with you, I want to marry you and make a family with our kids”.

Why do we have to deal with those kind of crap?

Same stories and Fitbit seems to do nothing... and like many other real users of this app are seriously thinking in getting out to find a place where we can be respected and out of scammers and creepers.