URIBL Has Blacklisted RapBank Links???

23 replies
Guys,

I went to send out a broadcast this evening for a RapBank product. Well, the Aweber Spam Assassin score kept coming out at 10 (you aren't supposed to send if it's over 5).

I checked into it, and it seems that the "rapbank.com" URL has been blacklisted by a site called URIBL. I created an account there and requested that the link be de-listed, but in the meantime I cannot send out any RapBank links without the Spam Assassin score coming up 10.

How did this happen?

Is anyone else experiencing this?

Does this mean that we can't use Aweber to promote RapBank products now?
#aweber #blacklisted #links #rapbank
  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    Try using a redirect URL from your website pointing to the RapBank link.
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    • Profile picture of the author nicheblogger75
      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      Try using a redirect URL from your website pointing to the RapBank link.
      That doesn't work. I tried that. URIBL says that "rapbank.com" is spam listed. I'm assuming that using any RapBank "go" link, redirected or otherwise, will trigger the Spam Assassin. I tried using a URL shortener, but it still detected the original link.

      However, I'm thinking that I could still promote by adding the ?e= plus my Paypal address will work.

      This is strange. Will Clickbank be next?
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    I bet they are reading the htaccess file. If you used a script redirect, I cannot imagine that it would still get the boot, unless your site is on the black list.
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    • Profile picture of the author nicheblogger75
      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      I bet they are reading the htaccess file. If you used a script redirect, I cannot imagine that it would still get the boot, unless your site is on the black list.
      No, my site is fine. It just seems to be the rapbank.com url. how do you do a script redirect? I'll try that. RapBank is going to have pretty big problem if Aweber has indeed blacklisted that URL.

      Maybe it's just a glitch or something. I'm not even sure what that URIBL site is even all about and how it relates to Aweber.
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      • Profile picture of the author tpw
        Originally Posted by nicheblogger75 View Post

        how do you do a script redirect? I'll try that. RapBank is going to have pretty big problem if Aweber has indeed blacklisted that URL.

        This is a quick, dirty example...

        Make a file called rb.php (or whatever) and inside the file put the following:

        PHP Code:
        <?php

        // replace the capital S with a dollar sign
        // for some reason, the forum won't let me do the dollar sign

        Starget S_REQUEST ['r'];

        if (
        Starget == "offer1")
        {
        header('Location: http://www.rapbank.com/');
        }
        else
        {
        header('Location: http://www.yourdomain.com/');
        }

        exit;

        ?>
        Then set your URL in aweber as:

        PHP Code:
        http://www.yourdomain.com/rb.php?r=offer1 
        Signature
        Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
        Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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        • Profile picture of the author nicheblogger75
          Originally Posted by tpw View Post

          This is a quick, dirty example...

          Make a file called rb.php (or whatever) and inside the file put the following:

          PHP Code:
          <?php
           
           
          = Array ['r'];
           
          if ( == 
          "offer1")
          {
          header('Location: http://www.rapbank.com/');
          }
          else
          {
          header('Location: http://www.yourdomain.com/');
          }
           
          exit;
           
          ?>
          Then set your URL in aweber as:

          PHP Code:
          http://www.yourdomain.com/rb.php?r=offer1 
          Thanks for this. To answer an earlier question, RapBank is an instant affiliate commisisons network. It's not CPA. It's like Clickbank, but you get your commissions paid instantly to Paypal.
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          • Profile picture of the author tpw
            Originally Posted by nicheblogger75 View Post

            Thanks for this. To answer an earlier question, RapBank is an instant affiliate commisisons network. It's not CPA. It's like Clickbank, but you get your commissions paid instantly to Paypal.

            Look again. I had to keep fixing it to make it work.
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            Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
            Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author lembone
    What is Rapbank? Is that a CPA Product or Company?
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  • Profile picture of the author GarrieWilson
    It's not Aweber.

    To get around it, try activate link tracking. The spam checkers shouldn't see it on delivery but Aweber will still report it as a spam link when you check.

    No reputible companies use URIBL.

    Garrie
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  • Profile picture of the author Robert Michael
    Sign up as a direct affiliate for the product you want to promote, instead of using the RAPBank links.

    They are all powered by RAP (obviously) so its instant-approval.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Garrie,
    No reputible companies use URIBL.
    Ummm... Where do you get that idea? It is often used as one of the tests in SpamAssassin. I don't know if it's in there as a default these days, but it's certainly implemented by a fair number of places.

    That assumes he's talking about the one at URIBL.com. The term URIBL is also a generic acronym - "Universal resource indicator block list." There are a number of them. If you land on the wrong one(s), you're going to see a fair bit of mail getting dropped or bulk-foldered.


    Paul
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    • Profile picture of the author GarrieWilson
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

      Garrie,Ummm... Where do you get that idea? It is often used as one of the tests in SpamAssassin. I don't know if it's in there as a default these days, but it's certainly implemented by a fair number of places.
      From everything I have ever read about the service.

      A "fair number" of places... like who? Any major ISPs? Major Webhosts? ESP? I know some offer it as an option but not default and "forced".

      Instead of reputable, I should have said major.

      -g
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Garrie,

    The specific one at URIBL.com? I just checked, and it's listed as one of the default tests performed by SpamAssassin. So, any ISP, webhost, or other provider which uses SpamAssassin and hasn't explicitly removed it from the list is covered by it.

    SpamAssassin: Tests Performed: v3.3.x

    That is a LOT of places. Including most webhosts that offer spam filtering for their customers.


    Paul
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    Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.

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    • Profile picture of the author nicheblogger75
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

      Garrie,

      The specific one at URIBL.com? I just checked, and it's listed as one of the default tests performed by SpamAssassin. So, any ISP, webhost, or other provider which uses SpamAssassin and hasn't explicitly removed it from the list is covered by it.

      SpamAssassin: Tests Performed: v3.3.x

      That is a LOT of places. Including most webhosts that offer spam filtering for their customers.


      Paul
      But what does that mean for promoting RapBank? That the RapBank link is always going to trigger a 10? What if you send out a swipe with a score of 10? Will Aweber suspend your account?
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      • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
        But what does that mean for promoting RapBank? That the RapBank link is always going to trigger a 10?
        By itself, being in URIBL.com's list is less than 2 points in SpamAssassin, under the default scoring. So... No. It doesn't mean that.

        It should also be noted that listings in URIBLs generally age out. As I understand it, the most common duration, barring re-listing resulting from additional reports of spam for other incidents, is 7 days.
        What if you send out a swipe with a score of 10? Will Aweber suspend your account?
        They suspend based on spam complaints, not SpamAssassin scores. But if you're sending an email with a 10, you have other issues with the content aside from the RapBank URL.


        Paul
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        Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.

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        • Profile picture of the author nicheblogger75
          Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

          By itself, being in URIBL.com's list is less than 2 points in SpamAssassin, under the default scoring. So... No. It doesn't mean that.

          It should also be noted that listings in URIBLs generally age out. As I understand it, the most common duration, barring re-listing resulting from additional reports of spam for other incidents, is 7 days.They suspend based on spam complaints, not SpamAssassin scores. But if you're sending an email with a 10, you have other issues with the content aside from the RapBank URL.


          Paul
          I put a decent amount of content in. I've had emails with only a few lines only register a 1.8. It was coming up 10 no matter what I did. Strange.
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    • Profile picture of the author GarrieWilson
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

      Garrie,

      The specific one at URIBL.com? I just checked, and it's listed as one of the default tests performed by SpamAssassin. So, any ISP, webhost, or other provider which uses SpamAssassin and hasn't explicitly removed it from the list is covered by it.

      SpamAssassin: Tests Performed: v3.3.x

      That is a LOT of places. Including most webhosts that offer spam filtering for their customers.


      Paul
      I thought it was just an option like Spamcop is? I know when I had a server, I could use any number of them but I only used Spamhaus.

      I guess my wording was piss poor. Surprise. Surprise.


      -g
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Garrie,
    I thought it was just an option like Spamcop is? I know when I had a server, I could use any number of them but I only used Spamhaus.
    Spamhaus is the most reliable, certainly. It's the only one that's low enough in false positives that I'd trust it to outright block mail.

    SpamAssassin is an option at most hosting services. If someone is using any spam filtering on their own domains, it's likely to be that. If you bump the score needed to label something as spam to 7 or 10, you'll find extremely few false positives, and you can filter the labeled stuff to a separate folder for checking occasionally. Of course, that means more spam getting to the inbox, but if you're in this market, you'd see too many FPs at the default level.

    Many smaller ISPs use SpamAssassin. The bigger places tend to rely more on the SBL/XBL for front end blocking, and frequently have their own systems for content filtering. A lot of them use the various URIBLs, but they don't publicize the ones used, or the weight they give each in their scoring systems. That can make it very difficult for anyone not on the inside to be sure who's using what.

    Justly so, for obvious reasons.
    I guess my wording was piss poor.
    I wouldn't say that. It's not like this is an area a lot of people pay attention to.


    Paul
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    • Profile picture of the author netkickstart
      Just wanted to let you all know we went thru the de-listing process this weekend, so rapbank's go links are back in good graces. Please do not hesitate to use our helpdesk if you should notice anything like this in the future. We'd also like to encourage you to use url shorteners/trackers and report any spammy behavior to us, so we may take corrective action before it gets to the point of affecting the rest of the members. Thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Osman_M
    I am sure the RAP owner will chime in sooner or later but maybe its just something temporarily. How long has this been going on for?
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  • Profile picture of the author pbarnhart
    Forget the redirect URL - if you issue any 30X your score will still be affected. You need to go serious old-school. Had to do this on some advertising awhile back for a golf course client.

    Old school - HTML Meta Refresh. Nothing on the html but the redirect and a robots directive for noindex.

    Code:
    <meta http-equiv="refresh" content="2;url=http://www.example.com/">
    Important: Search engines hate meta refreshes - you get some serious dings for using them. So "noindex, nofollow" your page and drop it behind a denied robots.txt directory.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jeremy Gatica
      Originally Posted by netkickstart View Post

      Just wanted to let you all know we went thru the de-listing process this weekend, so rapbank's go links are back in good graces. Please do not hesitate to use our helpdesk if you should notice anything like this in the future. We'd also like to encourage you to use url shorteners/trackers and report any spammy behavior to us, so we may take corrective action before it gets to the point of affecting the rest of the members. Thanks.
      Originally Posted by Osman_M View Post

      I am sure the RAP owner will chime in sooner or later but maybe its just something temporarily. How long has this been going on for?
      Osman,
      that nice fellow right above you is the co-owner of Rapbank and between him and Bill (co-owner as well) they stay on top of things and seems to have taken care of the problem.

      I would also like to point out that their support is some of the best I have seen, never hesitate to use the helpdesk for anything Rapbank related.
      They respond quick with any questio0ns or problems you may have.
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