As Twitter has grown it has attracted the scummy side of marketing and other less savory types of link hi-jacking leaving some folks wondering if it is worth all the trouble to be a part of social media. It is getting to the point that we are having to double check any follow requests to see if we can detect a potential spammer who will make our lives miserable with those irritating spammy private direct messages (DM’s).

Well another blogger who I really like has come up with a fairly simple three step checklist that will help you discern those pain in the ass people. Hutch came about the list after carefully looking over follow requests and the person’s Twitter page. These are his three things to watch out for

1. Following/followed by several thousand

This is something you often see. They’re sporting several thousand followers, and they’re often following the same number back. This high number is your first clue (yeah, I’m guilty here). If they’re somewhat new, they’re following several thousand, while only a fraction are following back.

2. Bio has one of the 7 deadly terms

Marketer. Coach. Speaker. Expert. Affiliate marketing. Social media. Multilevel marketing.

See one of these terms in the bio, and the probability of an auto-DM spam just increased 500%. Something about these folks. They got a Twitter lesson along the way that says you need to “engage” your audience on social media. You know, with a personal auto-DM.

3. They followed you, out-of-the-blue

This is the last trait. Somehow, you hit their radar. Not sure how. Maybe it was word you used in a tweet. An @reply exchange with someone they’re following. A search on your bio.

This is the final, most important trait. They have several thousand followers. Their bio has one of the deadly words. And then they find you out of the blue.

Thanks Hutch – this is much appreciated. Now if we could just get an Internet based seek and destroy Taser gun we’d be all set.