I’d like to update this to add that now it’s also blocking me even after logging in as administrator. After logging in successfully, I connect back to the VPN and it’s started to block me when I click on anything in the admin side such as adding a new post or page.
This probably means that the VPN service you are using is being abused by someone else, who is getting blocked as a “fake google crawler”. If the VPN service doesn’t give you a unique IP address when your traffic reaches the internet, then Wordfence can’t tell the difference between when you use that IP, and when another VPN customer does.
Unfortunately, people/bots who pretend to be google crawlers do often use VPN services, to hide themselves from your site too.
It sounds like when you get back in and check the banned IPs, the banned IP must have expired (to allow you back in). You can set Wordfence email alerts on the Options page, to let you know when someone is blocked, and then you could probably see that the IP is the same as your own.
If the VPN service lets you choose to change your IP, that may be a temporary solution. But, if you’re sharing IPs that other people are abusing at the VPN service, Wordfence won’t be able to tell the difference.
When I disconnect from the VPN, I can reconnect. If I reconnect to the VPN and refresh the page then it brings up the same error about a fake google crawler. Also, I have the option disabled to automatically ban fake google crawlers, yet it still does it. I thought if I unchecked the box to immediately ban fake google crawlers then it wouldn’t block me. However, it’s still blocking with the option unchecked.
I’ve checked my settings. I have it set to email me anytime an IP is blocked. I never get an emails for that, which is of no surprise. I’ve just started developing the site or told anyone about the site. Therefore, there’s no reason for anyone to be visiting.
I know the email alert feature is working because I get an email when I login as admin. I have it set to email me when an admin logs in. The only alert option I don’t have checked is to email me when a user signs in.
Ok, if the options don’t seem to be working correctly, it usually helps to turn on the option labeled “Disable config caching” and then save your options — this option is near the bottom of the Options page. (This could be caused by the permissions of the directory or file where Wordfence saves its config cache, inside the plugin’s folder.)
It’s also strange that you aren’t getting emails for the blocked IPs, but that might be caused by the config cache, too.
I don’t think it should affect the list of blocked IPs though, so if an IP was blocked, I would still expect to see it on the “Blocked IPs” page. In your options, what amount of time do you have set for “How long is an IP address blocked when it breaks a rule”?