Is there a way to allow localized registration only?

[jorkenservices]

Every time i open up registration i get spammed from overseas @#%&@*# my forum was designed originally mainly for local use however I dont mind people from other states ect joining but every single person that seems to join from overseas is spamming the site or placing non applicable topics etc... from porn to herbal medicine etc. Is there a way to stop this other than deleting and banning them, because they keep coming back under diff ip or names.

[Sorck]

Have you tried any anti-spam mods? I have HttpBL and StopSpammer. They work wonders together. We used to have bots registering frequently but since then we've pretty much eliminated them (if not entirely). The full list  of anti-spam mods is at http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?action=search;type=19

Trying to restrict it to 'local' use would require you restricting based on IP ranges. You then have the problem that it's easy for you to either miss some addresses (e.g. not allowing some US people or not denying some international people). And you still have the fact that it's easy for a bot based in the US or proxied through the US to register bots. However, if you do want to attempt this and you use Apache, you could do a restriction based on continent with mod_geoip2 or mod_geoip (depending on Apache version).

[live627]

Messy - restricting IPs Is not a good idea.

[Arantor]

Or even just put an anti-spam question in that has a localised answer that only local people would know.

[jorkenservices]

great response and I thank you. I appreciate ur help