How about this? (Not tested.)

$sth = $dbh->prepare("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users WHERE host=? AND date
+>DATE_SUB(NOW(), INTERVAL 5 MINUTE)");
$sth->execute($host);
$row = $sth->fetchrow_arrayref
    or die "some kinda error";

if ($row->[0]) {
    # there's already a user in the database which was
    # registered from this IP, less than five minutes ago.
    # fail in some way.
}

[download]

In reply to Re: Dont allow multiple registrations or automated script problem by smammy
in thread Dont allow multiple registrations or automated script problem by Nik

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