What would you do if someone was ...

by mmurtha

Posted: 16 years ago 24 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Spamming the heck out of a site that you sold to someone else?

Btw, just so you know, the new owner is being coached by me, and I am not sure what to tell him.

The spammer is a warrior who cannot be contacted except by snail mail. All emails bounce back that he has listed in the Whois database.

We did manage to block his IP address, but he is using a desktop app to spam the site now.

When I say spam, I mean a ton.

I know I received 708 emails in 4 hrs because he signed up to that many accounts with bogus email address to this article directory.

I run the server the site is on, and receive the kick-backs because I have them all forwarded to a specific account from the main server.

I do have the domain he uses to sign up with because the dumb bugger uses the same one.

Does captcha work? Think it might work in this case? Or at least slow him down?

Also, can we add something in the dot htaccess file other than his IP address? We've done that, and it doesn't help.

Thanks, we'd appreciate any thoughts you might have about the subject.

All the best ...

Mary

Chris W. Sutton

16 years ago

I'm like John Taylor...I just wish we were allowed to name the scum that do things like that.

Allen, TB has a "Name and Shame" section. Couldn't we PLEASE do something like that here. These people don't deserve to be in this forum and they need to be outed and made an example.

Thanks
2 replies

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9253].message }}

Bev Clement

16 years ago

Captcha will be a good option, and if you can change to approve it yourself, then you can ignore them.

I agree we should be able to name and shame especially when we have proof.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Your Own Product Created By Top Ghostwriters
WSO - Diet Niche - Massive PLR Package Run Your Own Diet Membership Site
15 Health PLR Books...Price Starts At $10
Writing Course For Higher Pay Days

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9282].message }}

Jelasco

16 years ago

This person is sending spam emails to the site or is posting tons of junk to it? If it's emails I don't see what he expects to gain from it.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9318].message }}

mmurtha

16 years ago

Jelasco,

He's creating different accounds by the thousands, and trying to submit articles.

It's an article directory.

Every time he signs up for an account he gets a welcome email that bounces.

Btw, I have no idea why he keeps doing it. He's been banned, deleted, mailed directly to, etc ....

Thanks for your comment though ..

Mary

Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9352].message }}

Lance K

16 years ago

If they're a warrior, shoot them a PM and tell them they'll be the first boot licker named on your name & shame domain if they don't stop. And that you'll use your sig file here to promote your new name & shame site where his mug will be prominently displayed as scumo numero uno on the main page if he doesn't back the f%#k off right quick.

Just a thought.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

"You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
~ Zig Ziglar

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9427].message }}

mmurtha

16 years ago

Hey Lance,

Did that first thing yesterday, and got no response. He was on the forum for hrs today too.

Now I hadn't thought about putting the site up in my sig. Great suggestion ... thanks!

Matter of fact, I'll have to hunt you down tomorrow so I can give you some rep. I ran out for 24 hrs.

Mary

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9504].message }}

Lance K

16 years ago

Originally Posted by mmurtha

Mary,

Glad I could help. Hopefully it all works out for you.

P.S.

Though this suggestion may out the person...

you could change your sig to read..."<insert boot licker name here> PM me immediately, it's urgent!"

Or something to that effect. And then go and post to any thread they start or respond to immediately after they do. Even quote their post if you think it will give you a better chance of getting their attention. Just another thought.

Thanks
2 replies

Signature

"You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
~ Zig Ziglar

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9537].message }}

Amino Zawawi 16 years ago

Try out those mathematical captcha, will definitely slow him down. Just put down a complicated formula for him, something like (12*2)-(5-2) or better yet, a series of complicated formulas. That would definitely keep him busy for a while.
- Thanks
Signature

My blog: Freelancer 2.0 - How To Make Money Sans The Early Mornings
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9556].message }}

mmurtha

16 years ago

Amino,

Thanks for that kid! It's appreciated.

Originally Posted by lakading

No, can't do that in the sig. To me it still goes against the forum rulkes by naming someone outloud here. Putting the name in the sig will be like putting it in the subject line of a thread, or worse lol.

Although I'd love to right about now ...

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9596].message }}

Lance K

16 years ago

Originally Posted by mmurtha

Although I'd love to right about now ...

You're right. It would be funny as heck to see that in someone's sig though. Anyway, good luck.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

"You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
~ Zig Ziglar

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9603].message }}

Tirmizi 16 years ago

I think if someone from this forum is doing such a thing he should be named and banned.... .Its pretty normal to have good and bad guys ... most of the guys i have seen here are honest and will help however, this doesn't mean that the other group doesn't exisit ... well for that atleast you should name the person so that others could avoid any sort of deals with that guy.

Tirmizi
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature
Wordpress Coder | Wordpress Themes Creator
Wordpress Plugins Creator
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9754].message }}
- mmurtha 16 years ago
  
  Hi Tirmizi,
  
  I agree one hundred percent. There are some great ones, and not so great ones here!
  
  I think I am going to put that nameandshamewall.com site up tomorrow or Sunday. I may not be able to name them directly, but I think I can indirectly.
  
  Tanks for the encouragement to put the site up and name them out loud guys. It's appreciated.
  
  I may PM Allen to find out if I can put the link to the new site in my sig file so everyone here can name and shame the spammers and scammers! Maybe we can get a good solid list of resources so others don't get caught up in a mess.
  
  Mary
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10505].message }}

SteveJohnson 16 years ago

Mary, if he's creating accounts 'by the thousands', he's using automation to do it, and posting directly to your processing address, especially if denying via .htaccess isn't working. Captcha would probably work in his case, because he'd have to load the form page and manually submit each account request, then .htaccess would deny.

Alternatively, you could add a hidden variable to your script and check for that. Use a timestamp multiplied by a key and check the value at form submission. If the hidden value doesn't match, refuse the form.

#############

As unpopular as it may make me, I agree with Allen's "anti-naming" policy. Most times, there're two sides at least to every situation, and being allowed to air dirty laundry in public has too much potential for abuse.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

The 2nd Amendment, 1789 - The Original Homeland Security.

Gun control means never having to say, "I missed you."
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11271].message }}
- mmurtha 16 years ago
  
  Hi Steve,
  
  Tyhanks for that solution. I think I'm going to get a script that will stop automation of articles dead in their tracts.
  
  The thing I don't like is that it only takes one or two people to spoil a good thing. Now after this installation, no one will be able to autosubmit.
  
  As far as you not being so popular after you gave your opinion - I wouldn't think that at all. There was a reason for the number #1 rule to begin with - probably for the reason you outlined above.
  
  Matter of fact, I said the same thing at the beinging of the thread. I don't care for all of the unecessary naming and shaming, but there is a point as in this case where it is most applicable without having to get both sides of the story. It is what it is.
  
  Btw, if I do put the site up, Iwill be moderating tyhe comments and submissions, and will be checking them out before they post to the site. This way both parties get their say in what is going on.
  
  It's the fsirest way I know of to do something like this, and stay within legal bounds too.
  
  Again, thanks for the solution to my dilemma.
  
  Mary
  
  Thanks
  
  2 replies
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11564].message }}
  
  rmholla 16 years ago
  
  Contact his hosting company SPAMMING is a violation of TOS.
  
  Rhonda
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  Digital Delivery HQ - great products, instant delivery.
  
  Domains For Sale (make offer): EasyAuctionDeals.com & InstantNicheRiches.com
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11636].message }}
  
  Tirmizi 16 years ago
  
  so whats the latest on this issue has , stopping auto approval helped
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  Wordpress Coder | Wordpress Themes Creator
  Wordpress Plugins Creator
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11642].message }}

mmurtha

16 years ago

Originally Posted by Chris W. Sutton

Chris,

Right now I'd like nothing better then to do that at this point.

I do have the nameandshamewall.com domain I haven't done anything with yet.

Perhaps it's a good time to get it going.

Thanks!

Khuram and Bev,

That's what I'm thinking, but I'm not sure how good they work.

Btw, the new owner is planning on making it a paid directory soon. Maybe you are right there. It might help stop him as he'd have to pay for each account he opens.

I'll tell you guys, I don't often get this fried over stuff, but this one is really messing with me.

Thanks for your response. It meant a lot to me.

Mary

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9316].message }}

mr2monster

16 years ago

Originally Posted by mmurtha

If his whois info is incorrect, he can lose his domain if someone complains:

more info here:
Google Answers: Need for legible and accurate WHOIS data

That will do one of two things.

1. He'll lose his domain
2. He'll update to valid contact info. At which point you can contact him.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

FREE Training - No Opt-In.
Learn To Make Money Buying and Selling

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11717].message }}

mmurtha

16 years ago

rmholla and mr2monster,

His host was contacted but nothing was resolved.

Btw mr2monster, thatnks for that info and link.

Tirmizi,

This afternoon was the first time I open my mailbox to find "0" mail delivery messages! Yeah!

I haven't set that script up yet but we are working on it today and tomorrow.

But we did send him a letter by snail mail at the beginning of the week. I'm hoping that stopped him, but we are still putting the script in for furture autosubmiters.

We'll let you know what happens in the next week or so.

Thanks for the interest btw.

Mary

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11804].message }}

Raja Sekharan

16 years ago

Mary,

Check the User-Agent for all his applications. If it is something like PHP/5.0 or something it is definitely an automated request. You can configure your server to run a script before every request. That script can check this variable and deny service when User-Agent is PHP/5.0.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11839].message }}

zerofill

16 years ago

Originally Posted by Raja Sekharan

If that stops him he must be really friggin stupid...
That would never stop me...and I am just speaking as a PHP programmer on that one...

Mary you need some help stopping him PM me if you don't get it resolved...I will help you.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Serp Shaker
The IM World Will Be Shaken to the Core!
Join my list at: IMCool.Biz
New Podcast --> podcast.imcool.biz

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11990].message }}

mmurtha

16 years ago

Originally Posted by zerofill

Hey zerofill,

Yup agreed! It isn't going to stop someone who wants to do it that badly. I know I've tried almost every way there is except for using this script that was recommended to me thru a PM.

Btw, thanks, and I'll do that.

Hey Raja, appreciate your input though.

Mary

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[12239].message }}

Simplweb 16 years ago

Originally Posted by mmurtha

The spammer is a warrior who cannot be contacted except by snail mail. All emails bounce back that he has listed in the Whois database.

I would say that is a far more effective deterrent than having his email. You "know where he lives".

Send him a cease and desist from your lawyer.
- Thanks
Signature
Simplweb - Joomla 1.5 Websites
Compass Designs Blog - Learn everything Joomla!

NEW WSO!!
Turnkey Membership Websites with Web 2.0 Social networking features
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[12308].message }}

What would you do if someone was ...

Trending Topics

Some interesting stats about brand comms

Fixing a massive traffic drop after rebranding

Meta AI now has Google Search results

Looking at the average screen time and socmed usage

What's the Best IM-Related Skill to Learn Today That Can Help in the Future?