Forums with fake statistics why?

[temi]

I once bought a forum about 4-5 years ago, I looked at the stats at the bottom of the forum and there were hundreds of users and guest online, after buying the forum I found out that the stats were all lies.

There is a forum I used to visit that does the same thing, also come across another forum this evening with one of this fake members, the question is, why pretend to be what you are not?

[gkd_uk]

I guess it makes the forum look busy and when new people visit, they join thinking there is lots of members so must be interesting.

[temi]

Yes, but I sort of lose respect for a forum that lure me in with fake stuff, I will be wondering what is real there.

[gkd_uk]

I agree, but it is not easy to tell whether the stats are fake

[SkinnerW]

I actually bought advertising on one forum based on these fake statistics than few weeks later I realized that almost 90% of posts on that forum made by the owner...

Good I did not pay a lot for that since there are practically no referrals from there according to my statistics...

Now I always check for new posts number/date/authors before I bother to join any forums...

[xhan]

if your pretending you have thousands of users your screwwing yourself over because I tend to stay away from huuuge forums.

[temi]

Yes, its really daft to fiddle stats at a foum.

[weilies]

I once bought a forum about 4-5 years ago, I looked at the stats at the bottom of the forum and there were hundreds of users and guest online, after buying the forum I found out that the stats were all lies.

There is a forum I used to visit that does the same thing, also come across another forum this evening with one of this fake members, the question is, why pretend to be what you are not?

Can we get the forum name?

[espmartin]

Yes, trust is a big issue with me and a website. And BTW Temi, can you translate "its really daft"
into American Slang for me ?

[Mars Guitars]

I once bought a forum about 4-5 years ago, ... the question is, why pretend to be what you are not?

Did you answer your own question here? Did seeing those big numbers maybe effect your buying decision? (I'm not saying I agree with fake stats, btw)