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

[bobby2478]

Again, what's to prevent "paying members" who own fitbit devices from doing the same thing? Just banning people who don't own a device doesn't solve the actual problem about how to deal with abuse when it inevitably happens. To solve the problem u need to address it systemically. Banning users who don't own devices won't solve the problem. 

What if you don't add or remove ur profile picture? Will that help stem some of the unwanted sexual advances people receive? 

[SunsetRunner]

Why should I have to change MY stuff? I PAY for this account, I should be able to post what I please whenever I please. These people are the problem, not the current users. Stop victim blaming! These people need to be held accountable for their actions! Also, I’m not getting messages from paying fitbit members. I’m getting messages and friend requests from people who don’t have any stats and clearly aren’t actually on the app for fitness. I’m tired of reporting profiles over and over again. Fitbit needs to do something and soon because all this b***s**t is NOT worth $11 a month!!! I got the fitbit to check my sleep stats and steps and instead I’m dealing with creeps. 

[bobby2478]

For crying out loud I'm not victim blaming. People have been complaining about this for a while and nothing has happened, partly because when people complain they bring little to the table in terms of an actual solution. My comment about possibly hiding / removing a profile picture isn't a solution to the problem, it's just a potential work around if someone is getting pestered non stop and can't take it anymore. No idea if it would make a difference or not just throwing it out there. People didn't do anything wrong to get subjected to unwanted advances, with little in the way of social media privacy controls in fitbit there's nothing to stop some people from using it as a dating site. 

A solution would be for fitbit to allow you to make ur profile, ur profile picture and other things in your profile "private only" and only viewable by people you approve, such as friends. That way random people who u don't know can't see ur picture or your entire profile if you so choose.

But banning people who don't have a device does nothing about people with a device doing the same thing. 

[ALP1961]

Well I've been here since 2015, it Never was this bad till Google got
involved. I came here for Fitness NOT dating. If this is the way Fitbit
wants to treat True Fitness related members they can take the whole thing
and shove it where the Sun doesn't shine. I hear those of you saying that
it won't work but offer NO SOLUTIONS other than you can't punish potential
members. These spam/scammers are NOT potential members and you Won't change
my mind in that respect. Not putting up a picture doesn't help, you can
already make your profile private as far as what is shown. It is NOT
stopping the SPAM so it is Again on FITBIT to take ACTION and they are Not
doing anything to help us out. Either get on board or get out of the way as
this CRAP HAS TO END. I don't believe Anyone else came here to deal with
SPAM or SCAMMERS, We all came here for some Fitness related reasons. Let's
get this APP back to EXACTLY THAT PURPOSE.

Alan L Patrick

[CallyFC]

Make it so that users have to sign up with a unique mobile number.

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @CallyFC, thanks for explaining why you would like to see an option to avoid users to create Fitbit accounts unless they have Fitbit devices and use a unique phone number. Thanks for sharing your feedback. I've moved it into a similar request.  A lot of users are asking for this option, I hope we receive updates soon.

[J_the_gay]

I agree. I’ve had so many old guys dm me. It’s always the same: he’s got kids, he’s just lost his wife, he asks if IM married. Like I’m literally a minor dude. Luckily, I don’t get any financial scammers, but I did get a creep who asked questions about my SEX LIFE. Please make this a rule.

[leear]

If Fitbit compiled a list of their emails and IP adressess, of the creeps, Google could start it's own dataase of a Sexual Offenders Register for the global police force, to contact. 🙂

[ALP1961]

What's sad is that things really went downhill when Google bought into
Fitbit. I don't see Google helping get rid of the riff raff we have aquired
of late. Fitbit has lost control of the App and getting rid of the Spam
Accounts. Seems like the more accounts I report, the faster they come back
in. Take one down and 15 show up. I have at least a dozen waiting at the
moment to be taken care of. Totally Sick of it, when I first came here back
in 2015 it was nothing like now.

Alan L Patrick

[leear]

I agree it's shameful and putting all users at risk 😞

Where is their duty of care?

Does someone have to die?

[leear]

Catfishing on the app and an open door for scamming and scammers

This issue is the key issue that Google needs to address and resolve, if they want to retain users and protect the brand and user confidence in both Fitbit and Google.

There are other fitness trackers, some at a fraction of the Fitbit cost. 

Customer loyalty will be compromised, by inaction on this key security matter.

Moderator Edit: Formatting

[AJNSD]

I agree with this other than one thing. The scammers on this site are ruining it for the people who are legitimately using the app for fitness but don’t have the financial stability to go out and pay $200 for a watch. So I wouldn’t make it so you have to own a Fitbit per se, but have better monitoring so that the people with ridiculous numbers of steps and other data that does not make sense to be a real profile get flagged and given a warning and then banned. This site clearly has moderators as they post on the forum comments no problem. We shouldn’t have to do their jobs for them by reporting 50 people a day who have no business using the app. 

[ALP1961]

The point is that Fitbit doesn't Stop them, nor do they Truly seem to be
concerned about stopping them before they get to Us.
They have basically given them the ability to come in to check things out,
then Totally forget about them till they get reported. I've paid for All my
devices and they (Fitbit) lets them in with NO device and never checks back
up on them. Also Now Google has bought into Fitbit. If you think Google is
going to stop it, you are Very Mistaken.

Alan L Patrick

[Atomic77]

I think I have to agree with what is being said here. although I haven't really seen it happen it sounds like it does and I hope something is done about it.

[Spamber]

It's been 6 months since I posted on this thread, and sadly, the problem only got worse. After getting tired of the harassment and getting over 20 friend requests a day, I have moved on to greener pastures. While I miss the community aspect that came along with fit bit, my new Galaxy watch allows me to focus on the important things and keeps me from getting frustrated. Fit Bit's lack of care to protect its users just got to be too much. I wish you all the best!!

[AmyM]

This thread was begun on 5/21/2020 and was responded to by a moderator on 5/22/2020 who replied, “If this suggestion receives votes from other customers and gains popularity, it will be shared internally with various teams at Fitbit.  Watch this space for status updates.“

Well, today it is 1/18/2021 and to date, nearly eight months later, this thread has received 500 votes and seven pages of comments.  And yet, there has been no further response or update from Fitbit.  This is very disappointing, especially considering how much money legitimate Fitbit users have paid for not only their Fitbit devices, but also for a good experience, which we cannot have when continually fighting scammers.  It’s also extremely disappointing that not only has Fitbit continued to turn a blind eye to this heinous and potentially dangerous problem, but have also gone so far as to suspend the accounts of legitimate users who have merely tried to bring attention to, and warn others of, these NUMEROUS scammers.  

I am disgusted with Fitbit’s lack of concern or action and agree with Spamber.. maybe it is time to move on to greener pastures as many others have done.  It’s truly a shame that users paying Fitbit good money are forced to contend with the non-stop harassment of scammers who, with no Fitbit devices or any interest in fitness, are allowed free access to the Fitbit community to see how much money they can scam from users.

[nit3ghadge]

Thanks everyone for their feedback. I want google to think of it. I don't why they are not thinking of it

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi everyone, and thanks for sharing this suggestion. We've taken actions to help limit scammer behavior on social features. @nit3ghadge, in recognition of your suggestion, each of your votes will now count as 5 votes! Thank you for sharing this idea with us.

[ALP1961]

Makes me Sad that he wasn't the Only one that suggested this. You merged
everyone else's suggestion into his. Thanks for giving him the ONLY credit.

I have noticed a decrease in the amount of requests I have been getting, I
have quit posting to the Community as well. That was when I would get the
majority of requests from...

Alan L Patrick

[ALP1961]

Thanks for voicing your concern.
I've never tried to count my blocked list but it has to be way up there.
They stated they have started implementing something to stop it. Mine have
slowed way down but I stopped posting anything as well. Now that Google has
bought into Fitbit I'm curious to see what Really happens. This may be my
last device since 2015..


Alan L Patrick

[AmyM]

@YojanaFitbit

Exactly what actions have been taken to help limit scammer behavior on social features?

[TinaKatz]

I still receive friend requests and block bad actors on a daily basis. I haven't seen much change. 

[TinaKatz]

I receive emails when someone comments on this thread and have MiriamBaiter's post in my inbox. I have read it again and find it informative and relevant to this thread.

Anyway, I have to agree with AmyM (1-18-21) that it has been nearly 8 months since this thread was started and I have not seen any change or improvement. Just today, and it's only noon, I have seen, blocked 6 fake profiles that were created in the last couple of days, using stolen images that I have grown accustomed to seeing on the app. 

It's tiresome to find nasty comments on posts of good people, who deserve a cheer and friendly hello for their hard work, and if we stand up for ourselves or our friends, it's our accounts that get suspended. And I think that this is the point the MiriamBaiter was trying to make; the scammers are not getting their accounts suspended because she saw firsthand nothing happened to them. 

My cousin and a few friends have left Fitbit because of the constant harassment.

It is disappointing.

[ALP1961]

I totally agree with you. I've seen lots of people that were friends
leave already. It's sad that we can't feel safe in the Community on the
App. It used to be great but it was around 2018 we started getting the
pros, they scoped it out for a while. Mid to late 2019 they came flooding
in. Hasn't stopped yet 😥

Alan L Patrick

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi everyone. We appreciate each of our members that added their vote and shared their feedback about this feature suggestion. Let us explain that if an idea posted in the Feature Suggestions board already exists, it'll be merged into a relevant conversation as this will help us to consolidate the discussion and make sure the suggestions don't get confused, or split a popular vote. To learn more about this board, visit our FAQs.