Hello,
I am seeing an increase in third-party companies registering for user accounts on the element14 Community.
These accounts are then attempting to connect to and direct message other users, advertising their products, websites and services, and providing website links in their direct messages.
Please note:
- If the element14 Community, Farnell, Newark, element14 or Avnet are working with a third-party you will see their advertisements on the website in blog posts, forum posts, documents, and other content or in banner graphics. Not in direct messaging, unless it is from myself directly or otherwise made clear that it is permitted from element14 Community staff.
- Do not 'connect' or 'friend' people that you do not feel comfortable doing so with. Check the user's profile, username and avatar, if it looks like it is a company and it is not a known Manufacturers , or they have posted very little to the Community site, then you are not obligated to 'connect' with them.
- Be wary of any links sent to you in a direct message from people that you do not know.
- At present, you cannot 'report' direct messages as abusive or spam, please click through to the user's profile and 'report' the user profile there. If you want to give more of an explanation as to why you're reporting the user, please direct message me. You do not need to 'add' or 'connect' to an admin/moderator such as myself to send me a message.
To make it clear, you should not, and will not, be directly advertised to in direct message by element14 Community staff or those working with us in direct message. You will receive an initial message from me with links in it on the Community upon registration, that is typically it.
If in doubt, reach out, you can post to Feedback and Support without the post being public if you are logged out if you want to discuss or report anything.
I'm always here to answer any questions you have.
