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global1

(25,169 posts)
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 11:49 AM Sep 2021

Has Anyone Heard Of A Website Called "Nextdoor".....

I received a letter the other day that appeared to come from a neighbor. It was an invite to join 'nextdoor.com' (don't click on this). I liked the idea that it included me in a forum with my neighbors in my school district - so I visited the site and entered the password it provided in the letter. The response was that I didn't have the correct password - so I couldn't join. The name on the letter turned out to be a lady around the block from where I live - but no contact info. I went to the internet. Googled her name. Got her address and two telephone numbers. Called. One was disconnected and the other only provided a constant static. So in my next walk around the block - I left a note in this ladies mailbox requesting a more current password. A day later I had a message on my phone where this lady called me and said she dropped out of nextdoor.

I was talking with a friend on the other side of town - telling her of my experience and she went to her table - where she pulled out the exact same letter (type face/font/message, etc0 as the letter I received - only hers was customized for the community around her house. She said - she felt it was a scam. She looked at the postmark on the envelope and it was from a zipcode in California. We're both in Illinois.

When I came home I pulled out my letter and compared them and they were exactly the same; same postmark and message - only both were customized to the neighborhood that surrounded our house. I must confess - she was more suspicious than I and she looked at the postmark, etc.

Anyway - now I'm wondering why somebody completely on the west coast would go through all the trouble customizing these letters and sending them out. What's the scam here? Is it a scam? Is this legitimate?

So I'm posting this here to see if anyone else on DU has received a similar letter and is either participating in nextdoor or if they were taken advantage of. I'm curious - as to where in the country you might be located. Again - we received these letters here in Illinois and they were mailed out - not by one of our neighbors - but came from someone in California - that did a lot of research to ID our neighborhoods, including names of real neighbors - that they included in these letters.

What's the deal?

48 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Has Anyone Heard Of A Website Called "Nextdoor"..... (Original Post) global1 Sep 2021 OP
I think it was real, but scammers took it over. GPV Sep 2021 #1
Yes, It's Like A Local Message Board SoCalDavidS Sep 2021 #2
It was originally a good thing Jilly_in_VA Sep 2021 #4
I tried Topix to see what was going on in the town where I grew up EYESORE 9001 Sep 2021 #16
I signed up before I moved from SW VA in 2019 thinking it would be a good neighborhood type of dameatball Sep 2021 #23
Nextdoor is real, and it's a mixed bag. Ocelot II Sep 2021 #3
Almost sounds like an entertaining place to go. Wonder what the record is for getting banned? marble falls Sep 2021 #5
Exactly utopian Sep 2021 #8
Yeah it has been my goto for people in the trades cinematicdiversions Sep 2021 #15
we have a couple of great admins on ours and they do not take prisoners yellowdogintexas Sep 2021 #43
I've heard of the NextDoor app, and even joined, it was nothing like I anticipated, that is, SWBTATTReg Sep 2021 #6
I just got the same letter (in Oregon) jmbar2 Sep 2021 #7
Yes it's real. It's purpose is to connect residents of an area thru online postings. Fla Dem Sep 2021 #9
" that did a lot of research" Effete Snob Sep 2021 #10
My local experience with ND has been pretty good. Nittersing Sep 2021 #11
Don't forget the salesman/scammer at the door posts cinematicdiversions Sep 2021 #17
What was the zip code? Anon-C Sep 2021 #12
It truly is a great source of entertainment...for real. ret5hd Sep 2021 #13
The "alerts" about the strange cars and the men taking pictures are the best. Ocelot II Sep 2021 #18
omg Skittles Sep 2021 #37
I got an email from them a couple of years ago. flyingfysh Sep 2021 #14
I signed up for Nextdoor last year EYESORE 9001 Sep 2021 #19
I set my notices to come only once a week. yellowdogintexas Sep 2021 #44
The site Is populated mostly by trump supporters ItsjustMe Sep 2021 #20
That must be a local phenomenon. I have seen very few TFG supporters, Ocelot II Sep 2021 #21
NextDoor is not suppose to be a political site. It's too bad it is in your neighborhood. SharonClark Sep 2021 #33
That's what I've done too, though haven't activated it in over a year. yonder Sep 2021 #34
Yeah It's very political here In Fresno CA ItsjustMe Sep 2021 #35
The one for my neighborhood is a complete cesspit of sexist trumpy trolls. And that is not Scrivener7 Sep 2021 #22
We have it here and it's invaluable TrogL Sep 2021 #24
My wife joined Nextdoor to find used furniture for the cat to destroy in the ads. NNadir Sep 2021 #25
I'm a member. It's good and informative about 50% of the time woodsprite Sep 2021 #26
It's a real site. Treefrog Sep 2021 #27
Works fine in my Chicago neighborhood - I use it all the time. Peregrine Took Sep 2021 #28
Yes, it's real. Kind of annoying, but helpful to know what sinkingfeeling Sep 2021 #29
we have a couple of guys in our Neighborhood who can be counted on yellowdogintexas Sep 2021 #45
It's real GoddessOfGuinness Sep 2021 #30
I am convinced, (with no proof) that it is financed by RING. vanlassie Sep 2021 #31
Nextdoor popular where I live.... chillfactor Sep 2021 #32
Yes, I'm on it all the time and it's a great tool. Laffy Kat Sep 2021 #36
I thought about joining it, looked it up Mr.Bill Sep 2021 #38
Lost dogs and lost cats left-of-center2012 Sep 2021 #39
Got it. What everybody said in all posts above. UTUSN Sep 2021 #40
generally a rightwing shitshow and police surveillance site. Voltaire2 Sep 2021 #41
Not where I live. Ocelot II Sep 2021 #46
Next Door is very real. It does not ask for money or anything yellowdogintexas Sep 2021 #42
You will learn who picks up dog poop and who does not! Phentex Sep 2021 #47
I have the Nextdoor App. It is useful avebury Sep 2021 #48

SoCalDavidS

(9,998 posts)
2. Yes, It's Like A Local Message Board
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 11:51 AM
Sep 2021

Once you prove you're located in the specific are you're signing up for, it allows you to post about any news happenings in the neighborhood. Also things like missing pets, local service provider recommendations, garage sales, etc.

Jilly_in_VA

(9,854 posts)
4. It was originally a good thing
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 11:55 AM
Sep 2021

Then it got heisted. Not only by scammers, but by some really nasty folks in some neighborhoods....bigots, racists, gossips, etc. Kind of like another website I used to use called Topix, which was originally a good place to find out what was going on in my home town and then turned really nasty.

EYESORE 9001

(25,812 posts)
16. I tried Topix to see what was going on in the town where I grew up
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 12:28 PM
Sep 2021

It was chock-a-bloc with the same gossip and rumors that made me want to GTFO all those years ago.

dameatball

(7,380 posts)
23. I signed up before I moved from SW VA in 2019 thinking it would be a good neighborhood type of
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 01:02 PM
Sep 2021

thing. Lived in a great little small town. Seems it never got off the ground and just disappeared. Oddly enough I have received a few notifications this past year. Haven't responded or logged in. I would enjoy keeping up with things back there but am a bit distrustful. i do recall when Topiux turned into a complete cesspool.

Ocelot II

(115,280 posts)
3. Nextdoor is real, and it's a mixed bag.
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 11:54 AM
Sep 2021

I've used it to get rid of stuff I don't need - just post some info and location and it's gone within hours. It's also a useful source of local info like street repair, etc. Unfortunately it's also where a lot of Karens and neighborhood scolds hang out.

utopian

(1,091 posts)
8. Exactly
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 12:05 PM
Sep 2021

My neighborhood site contains a high degree of pearl clutching, dog hating, homeless fearing folks who stand at the ready to cluck cluck at anything or anyone that doesn't conform to their insular, privileged, and comfortable existence. But it's also a great place to find a handyman or sell something.

 

cinematicdiversions

(1,969 posts)
15. Yeah it has been my goto for people in the trades
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 12:26 PM
Sep 2021

Like anything else it is what you make of it. Of course it helps if you live in a good neighborhood with decent people.

yellowdogintexas

(22,119 posts)
43. we have a couple of great admins on ours and they do not take prisoners
Tue Sep 14, 2021, 04:48 PM
Sep 2021

It is really easy to be booted if you break the rules.

SWBTATTReg

(21,859 posts)
6. I've heard of the NextDoor app, and even joined, it was nothing like I anticipated, that is,
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 12:01 PM
Sep 2021

actual help for and by neighbors in your immediate area. It was more of a complaint fest, w/ personal feelings interjected on just about everything not neighborhood-related, nothing at all like DU if you want a comparison. I also rec'd tons of emails that I didn't want, buy this, buy that, etc., so much so that I dropped out within a couple of days. A true disappointment. One point, they don't monitor this either, so you can further imagine what I'm talking about.

You're better off talking to the neighbors across the fences of your backyard, in the alleyways, elsewhere live, to get feedback if you want on issues.

The scam, I wouldn't be surprised. I am surprised that you went to so much trouble to locate an usable password, perhaps you too, like I did, really looked forward to the benefits that such a neighborhood group would offer. Sadly, this particular org. Next Door has a long, long way to go. You were smart to drop out immediately.

jmbar2

(4,832 posts)
7. I just got the same letter (in Oregon)
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 12:02 PM
Sep 2021

I was wondering what others had experienced. Think Imma gonna pass on it.

Fla Dem

(23,352 posts)
9. Yes it's real. It's purpose is to connect residents of an area thru online postings.
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 12:08 PM
Sep 2021

I joined, but after a while got bored with it. Also made me angry/sad with all the missing dog and cat posts. But I'm sure it serves a purpose to rally neighbors on local issues. Lots of advertising. Recommendations for restaurants were good. In fact that was one of the better aspects of the site, recommendations for service providers (auto repairs, painters, landscapers etc). However, hard to tell what was self promoting and real recs. Also lot of for stuff for sale. So if that interests you you may find it worthwhile to sign up. Just wasn't worth my time to be checking it everyday. Also it covered more than just my neighborhood and surrounding area. Got to the point where communities were added that were 5+ miles away. Some were on the other side of the intercoastal waterway, so not even remotely my neighborhood.

I finally left the site. I get enough junk mail, emails etc. Just didn't need any more.

 

Effete Snob

(8,387 posts)
10. " that did a lot of research"
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 12:10 PM
Sep 2021

No, nobody did any research.

It’s entirely automated. They make more money from showing you ads and selling your data than it costs to send out direct mailers. There’s no human doing any research.

Nittersing

(6,271 posts)
11. My local experience with ND has been pretty good.
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 12:11 PM
Sep 2021

I found a great, licensed electrician who lives in my neighborhood. And I have a 14yo coming over to do some yardwork (she did an aMAZing job for me a couple of weeks ago). Great for restaurant recommendations (especially during the pandemic). There's a neighbor who makes "Free Little Libraries" that look just like the homes they're posted in front of.

There is also constant complaining about unleashed dogs, dog poop, homeless camps, random fireworks (were those gunshots?) and a host of other issues that are on regular rotation.

I think Nextdoor has "Leads" that are supposed to monitor discussions and in my area, they seem to keep things from getting too nuts.

I like the app.

ret5hd

(20,435 posts)
13. It truly is a great source of entertainment...for real.
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 12:15 PM
Sep 2021

You know what they call a group of Karens? You know, like a covey of quail or a flock of birds.

It’s called a “nextdoor of Karens”.

Have you ever witnessed people working themselves into a panic over:

“a strange man just came to my door and hung a something on my doorknob!!!”

or

“there is a strange car parked on the street outside my neighbors house!!!”

or

“someone is walking down the street who is obviously not from this neighborhood. I think he is casing my house!!!”

And don’t get me started on the anti-vax, out-of-context-bible-verse, climate change deniers.

Or the full-grown macho men who get terribly intimidated by panhandlers outside the local CVS.

If you get bored on a weekday evening, NextDoor can be quite entertaining.

Ocelot II

(115,280 posts)
18. The "alerts" about the strange cars and the men taking pictures are the best.
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 12:29 PM
Sep 2021

I guess it's good that people are paying attention, but recently on my Nextdoor there was total freakout by someone who saw a guy taking pictures of her yard. The thread went on and on; finally she figured out that the guy was an insurance adjuster from a company she'd called about a new policy. And everybody else on the thread is like, "Why didn't you just ask him who he was and why he was there?" Then there are the posts about someone's purse being stolen from their car and they wanted people to know there were car break-ins in the neighborhood, and everybody else piles on to tell her she shouldn't have left her purse in the car. Kid's bike gets stolen? Kid shouldn't have left their bike where it could get stolen. Dog is missing? Why didn't you make sure your fence was secure? Lots of judgmental assholes on Nextdoor. And this being Minneapolis, it was totally exploding with conspiracy theories of all political stripes during the George Floyd protests.

But it can be fun reading and occasionally useful.

Skittles

(152,967 posts)
37. omg
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 06:57 PM
Sep 2021

there was this video posted about a "suspicious" guy - AA with dreadlocks - all he was doing was ringing a doorbell......is it a BURGLER???? The man was wearing flip-flops - I very much doubt that someone who may need to make a fast getaway would be wearing flip-flops....also, no mask, when there is a perfect reason to BE masked now.

Ridiculous.

flyingfysh

(1,990 posts)
14. I got an email from them a couple of years ago.
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 12:22 PM
Sep 2021

It appears to be a startup trying to eventually make money. Some of it hasn't been working so well. I have heard of some "neighborhoods" turning racist. Also, there is this story from Buzzfeed: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/nicolenguyen/nextdoor-scams

I ignored it. We already know lots of our neighbors, and my wife knows everyone in city government.

EYESORE 9001

(25,812 posts)
19. I signed up for Nextdoor last year
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 12:30 PM
Sep 2021

I’m astounded by the number of lost pets and people who freak out over loud noises.

ItsjustMe

(11,170 posts)
20. The site Is populated mostly by trump supporters
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 12:43 PM
Sep 2021

And all of the mods are right wingers.

I've gotten several 30 day bans from next door because I often tell these right wingers to STFU. I had someone message me the other day accusing me of being a drug user because I had told some trump supporter to STFU. I just replied to him with his full name and address. I never heard back from him.

Ocelot II

(115,280 posts)
21. That must be a local phenomenon. I have seen very few TFG supporters,
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 12:48 PM
Sep 2021

just a lot of Karens fussing about their neighbors' behavior and panicking over an unfamiliar car parked nearby. But I mostly use it to get rid of stuff and keep track of local street repairs.

SharonClark

(10,005 posts)
33. NextDoor is not suppose to be a political site. It's too bad it is in your neighborhood.
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 02:49 PM
Sep 2021

It isn't political where I live because NDers here shut down political posts very quickly.

I deactivated my account because I received too many alerts and notifications, and yes, there are a lot of lost dogs!
When I reactivated, so I could search for services I needed, I turned off all notifications and that works well.

ItsjustMe

(11,170 posts)
35. Yeah It's very political here In Fresno CA
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 03:35 PM
Sep 2021

Trump supporters pretty much run the site, but we do have a liberals of California section.

Scrivener7

(50,774 posts)
22. The one for my neighborhood is a complete cesspit of sexist trumpy trolls. And that is not
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 12:59 PM
Sep 2021

the neighborhood makeup. I quit and I made a complaint. I looked back in and they had gotten rid of one or two of the "make me a sandwich" charmers, but others had taken their places.

Just no. It's a hate fest.

NNadir

(33,368 posts)
25. My wife joined Nextdoor to find used furniture for the cat to destroy in the ads.
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 01:14 PM
Sep 2021

She got some very nice living room furniture, bought slip covers, and so far, no cat problems; the cat's now taking to our bed since the replacement furniture is less cat accessible. We bought it a very low price from an old retired lady who was looking to remodel.

We also got a very beautiful dining room set to replace the one my son destroyed when he was in Art School. It was from a young guy who was moving back in with his very nice Mom, who we met.

My wife likes Next Door, more or less, but my wife is a garage sale/estate sale kind of person.

woodsprite

(11,854 posts)
26. I'm a member. It's good and informative about 50% of the time
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 01:29 PM
Sep 2021

The rest of ours is political and religious posts. The good posts are vendor reviews/recommendations, lost pets, and other helpful neighborhood information.

 

Treefrog

(4,170 posts)
27. It's a real site.
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 01:31 PM
Sep 2021

But you sign up with your email and make your own password, so that letter thing is odd.

Peregrine Took

(7,408 posts)
28. Works fine in my Chicago neighborhood - I use it all the time.
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 01:34 PM
Sep 2021

Lost and found, general news, items for sale and free ones, etc.

I love it.

sinkingfeeling

(51,279 posts)
29. Yes, it's real. Kind of annoying, but helpful to know what
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 01:50 PM
Sep 2021

is going on in the area. Even has a place to list items for sale or give aways.

yellowdogintexas

(22,119 posts)
45. we have a couple of guys in our Neighborhood who can be counted on
Tue Sep 14, 2021, 04:57 PM
Sep 2021

for a hilarious comment! We have some folks who do Trap Spay Neuter (feral cats) and they are invaluable.

There is a map posted on Halloween to let folks know if you are giving out treats,

and a map to mark really great Christmas decorations around the area.

I wrote a review of a pizza place we really like and apparently about 25 people who read the review all showed up at the same time on a Sunday night and he was by himself. He had to call two workers back in to take care of the business. That was an example of great use of the site.

THen those folks came back and wrote their own rave reviews.

GoddessOfGuinness

(46,435 posts)
30. It's real
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 01:54 PM
Sep 2021

But it seems to be a hotbed of ignorance.
Since I joined, it’s become evident that there are a lot of people who live next door to people without actually being neighbors.

vanlassie

(5,637 posts)
31. I am convinced, (with no proof) that it is financed by RING.
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 02:46 PM
Sep 2021

Not only are there lots of Ring related ads that look like true stories, but the general tone of “be afraid” supports security sales.

chillfactor

(7,566 posts)
32. Nextdoor popular where I live....
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 02:48 PM
Sep 2021

in the New Mexico mountains. Very close small community and I look forward to the post notices In get in my email.

Laffy Kat

(16,356 posts)
36. Yes, I'm on it all the time and it's a great tool.
Sun Sep 12, 2021, 05:21 PM
Sep 2021

You'll get updates on suspicious characters, cool items for sale, notices about yard sales, lost pets, found pets. good and bad places to eat, etc. You do have to be invited to join.

Mr.Bill

(24,104 posts)
38. I thought about joining it, looked it up
Mon Sep 13, 2021, 12:54 AM
Sep 2021

and although I can't remember the details it seemed like they wanted way too much of my personal information, so I passed on it.

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
39. Lost dogs and lost cats
Mon Sep 13, 2021, 03:04 AM
Sep 2021

I quit mine because it was mostly people complaining about their dogs and cats getting loose, missing, or running away.

I was viciously attacked when I suggested people needed to be more responsible pet owners.

Also there were multiple complaints by people who left their cars running, keys in the ignition, door open as they returned inside their home to get that last cup of coffee ... And surprise surprise someone stole their car.

Complaints of someone walking down the street who these people never saw before. "Should I call the police?" Or, "I saw a blue car today. No one in this neighborhood owns a blue car. What should I do?

Ocelot II

(115,280 posts)
46. Not where I live.
Tue Sep 14, 2021, 05:06 PM
Sep 2021

Lots of lost pets, stuff for sale/give away, fussing about unfamiliar cars parked on the street, porch pirates, some Karens griping about their neighbors, not much political or right-wing blather.

yellowdogintexas

(22,119 posts)
42. Next Door is very real. It does not ask for money or anything
Tue Sep 14, 2021, 04:46 PM
Sep 2021

I was invited by a friend through the "invite a friend" function.

Sometimes it is hilarious. It appears our neighborhood is covered with suspicious characters, lost or found pets, and discussions about favorite merchants/eateries etc

Oh yes the Amazon Package thieves.

There a lot of specialized groups. Our county Democratic Party has a county wide group (private) which is great fun.

Let's see: cooking/baking; crochet/knitting; books; gardening; cats (of course) Local merchants & eateries.

I do not know about other locations but Fort Worth has "Neighborhoods" which often form Neighborhood groups. I am in Wedgwood East for example. You can choose to only see your own neigborhood or the ones which border yours or go further out.

I had to set my notifications to one a week but I can send or receive private messages

I do not understand why someone would go to all the trouble you described? It sounds like they are trying to set up a chain mail.

Anyway, you can give it a try but you might just go to the Nextdoor site and join up there.

Phentex

(16,330 posts)
47. You will learn who picks up dog poop and who does not!
Tue Sep 14, 2021, 05:09 PM
Sep 2021

Our NextDoor can be useful but it can also be a real shitshow at times.

avebury

(10,946 posts)
48. I have the Nextdoor App. It is useful
Tue Sep 14, 2021, 05:33 PM
Sep 2021

in reporting lost and found animals, seeking help for work you need done or seeking recommendations. You can find out what is going on around you.

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