SPAM FIGHTING / MORE

Nail

(discussion in progress)
Newbie says:
I realize that this is probably an ignorant question, so please take into account that I'm new to all this "Spam war" stuff. I was wondering something... would it be easier to go to the web address that they're trying to get everyone to go to, figure out what ISP sponsors it, and see if they can be cancelled from there? If they don't have a web site, they don't have a business? Like I said.. I'm new to this, so it's probably a stupid question.

You're absolutely right about one thing: NO WEB SITE, NOTHING TO SPAMVERTIZE.

So do all of the above, and then some. If an e-mail Spam spamadvertizes a web site, do the following:

1. Visit the web site.
2. Scoop up any "contact us" addresses that aren't obvious autoresponders.
3. Send the Spam back to the addresses you've collected, along with a note saying, "You mistakenly dumped this crap in my mailbox. I thought you might want it back."
4. Do a WHOIS on the web site. If the domain for the technical contact differs from the domain of the billing and administrative contact, then the web site could be a virtual domain.

Here's an example:

 Joint Venture Marketing JOINTVENTUREMARKETING-DOM
    PO Box 67 (155 Lighthouse Rd.)
    Woodbury, CT 06798

    Domain Name: JOINTVENTUREMARKETING.COM

    Administrative Contact:
       Mastroianni, Joseph V  JVM11  joemast@SPRYNET.COM
       203-263-2881 (FAX) 203-262-6590
    Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
       Hostmaster, TABNet  TH941  TABNETHOSTMASTER@TABNET.NET
       707 256-1999 (FAX) 707 256-1997

    Record last updated on 04-Jan-97.
    Record created on 20-Nov-96.
    Database last updated on 18-Dec-97 06:13:27 EDT.

    Domain servers in listed order:

    NSB.NTX.NET                  209.24.1.216
    NSX.NTX.NET                  206.79.254.150

 BTW, for a good laugh (if you have the time, because this page loads
 so slowly you'll need a calendar to time it), visit the web site of
 Mr. Joe Mastroianni-my-last-name-sounds-like-an-Italian-pastry. His
 personal greeting .wav file will tell you everything you need to know
 about the guy.

Okay, where were we?

1. Go to the domain listed in "technical contact." See if they offer virtual-domain hosting. If so, then look for a TOS or AUP. Many virtual-domain hosting services prohibit spamvertising the web sites they're hosting. If so, complain. If their TOS or AUP doesn't prohibit spamvertising the web sites they're hosting . . . um, complain. But also politely ask them to revise their TOS or AUP to prohibit spamvertising the web sites they're hosting.
2. Look around the spamvertised web site for banners linking to LinkExchange or SmartClicks. Both will nuke the banner. For LinkExchange, complain to:

   postmaster AT linkexchange.com

   For SmartClicks . . . well, I don't know. Try abuse AT SmartClicks and postmaster AT SmartClicks. They'll nuke it.

3. Look for evidence of fraud, such as illegal pyramid schemes, lottery-ticket exchanges, miracle cures for cancer, etc. Report such things to the appropriate authorities.
4. For fun, do a DejaNews search on any e-mail addresses you find on the site. Then do a 411, Switchboard, or some such search for home phone numbers, home addresses, etc.
5. Forward the Spam to the spammer, along with all of the information you've collected from DejaNews, 411, etc. But personalize your forwarded Spam. For instance, if the spammer has been foolish enough to use his/her/its address on the web page and in "legitimate" Usenet posts, use the Usenet posts to make them question the wisdom of doing so.

Here's how:

1. No, the breasts are fake. I heard it from someone who worked on the set. In makeup, I think.
2. You can download such-and-such from www. I'm-a-dumb-spammer.com.
3. Your post in alt.sex.with.anyone didn't seem to elicit many responses. Perhaps you should reconsider your policy of "no smokers, no druggies."