Is checking IPs reliable?

[ClicketyKat]

If you own a forum, do you check IPs of newcomers? How reliable is it if you suspect it's someone bypassing a ban?

On one of my forums, I have had people bypass their bans, but first I detect it through their posting style. They hadn't even bothered to change the colors they used in their posts After that, checking the IP assured me it was the same person so I could ban the new account.

 

[Kane]

I do not see any reason why people who were banned from my site will return to the site again. I am not offering any incentives, therefore, I don't think they will return. Having said that I have banned people but I have never checked if they returned to the site with a new name and email ID.

 

[Heatman]

I do not see any reason why people who were banned from my site will return to the site again. I am not offering any incentives, therefore, I don't think they will return. Having said that I have banned people but I have never checked if they returned to the site with a new name and email ID.

You are very correct in this assessment because there is nothing for such person to come back for since you're not offering anything for the person to be making use of the website. Unless it's on a rare occasion that the person actually enjoys the information that he is obtaining from your website, that is the only way they can be able to decide to come back.