Old shared link won't work, it's marked as suspicious.

[Abby8]

Dropbox claims they think there is something suspicious about this old folder.  I'm just trying to make sure the link still works, to send it on to a dear cousin who is dying.  How do I get Dropbox to clear this up?  I tried contact, the chatbot, etc.  I can't see anything on their list of possible offenses that would make any sense.  Thank you to anyone who can help this computer ignoramus.  I never used to have such a problem with this photo folder.  

[Walter]

Hey @Abby8, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

Can you please send us a screenshot of the exact error you're getting so that we can have a look too?

Thanks!

[Abby8]

Hi Walter, I don't know how to do a screenshot.  Could you tell me?  Alternatively, I'll try to find the message and just copy and type it into here.  

Maybe I should add that I then tried another Dropbox folder of mine, and got the same refusal.  All these links are some years old, if that helps explain anything.  

Thanks, Abby

[Mark]

Are these Dropbox links you are using @Abby8 ? That means they are probably not in your Dropbox folder as you are viewing them on a public website. 

If they are in yours you can see them at www.dropbox.com/home

[Abby8]

I've no idea if these are "Dropbox links."  Also, I'm using my home computer--is that a "public website"?  I'm just using this Dropbox community thing.  When you refer to "[my] Dropbox folder" I'm not sure what you mean; I do hope these messages wouldn't go into my photo folder, which I'm trying to access!  

[Mark]

Can you explain exactly what you are trying to do and most importantly HOW? 

Screenshots would help 🙂

[Abby8]

I am trying to look at a Dropbox folder of old photos of mine from Africa.  The link I've had saved and used for years with no problem now says Dropbox thinks there is something "suspicious" about it, like maybe too many downloads (which I doubt) and won't let me open it.  Exactly, I want to look at it myself, and then email the link to a cousin who is dying.  How, I simply copied the link into the URL box in my browser, hit enter.  That has always worked before.  Unfortunately, I don't know how to do a screenshot.  

[Hannah]

Hey @Abby8, sorry to jump in here.

If this link was sent to you by someone else, it's them that are having the problem.

Dropbox has some limitations regarding traffic on links, bandwidth used, etc., so if these limitations are exceeded, the links get "banned".

If someone else sent you this link originally, they'll need to contact us from their account, so we can check what the issue is.

[Abby8]

Hi Walter, I don't know how to do a "screenshot," but I got bright and made a copy of the message--here it is:

We blocked this link to be safe

We noticed something suspicious - like a lot of downloads in a day. Ask the owner to create a new link. Learn more

Back to files  

This doesn't make much sense to me--I can't imagine why there would be lots of downloads; I haven't shared it with anyone for awhile, and I hardly doubt this is the sort of material someone would want to steal (it is just photos from my time in Peace Corps in the 1960s).  Here is the link I'm trying to access:  

[link removed]

Just BTW, I AM the owner!  Please help!  (I fear the problem extends to other folders--I tried another one and got the same message.)

[Hannah]

Hey Abby.

You might own the content of the link, if you purchased access to the files, for example, but in Dropbox terms, the owner is the person who uploads the files to their account.

Were you the one that initially uploaded the photos to your account and created the link?

Or was the link sent to you by someone else?