Rick’s spam glossary, version 021
Just what sort of a person is a “chickenboner,” and what color hat does he wear? What is an “MX,” and why is going directly to one considered to be bad form? What does one do with something called a “teergrube?” When you’re trying to come to grips with a complex subject, it’s helpful to have a glossary. That’s why I’ve maintained my own list of terms often found in the study of e-mail spam. I’ve been collecting them for some years, and have uploaded the latest version to http://www.rickconner.net/spamweb/glossary.html; it contains nearly 200 terms from “419” to “zombie,” with derivations, remarks, and extensive cross-reference links.
Andreas wrote:
I found your page about reunion.com spam, and it was interesting to read. Thanks a lot! Now, the same thing is happening in Sweden. Exactly the same. Here it is called StayFriends and it is the same annoying concept - once someone registers it is impossible to get rid of “reminers” about who in the old highschool class that has had most searches for his or her name.
First of all, “membership is free”. Members can recieve messages from previous classmates and friends, and upload photos and information. But in order to respond to a message or view other members photos, members have to become “premium members” which of course costs a lot. I could write a lot about it, but you know the concept already. Just issuing a warning for StayFriends, it is a highly successful copy - and it the letters (I still get messages even though I have contacted StayFriends and asked to be completely removed in every possible way!) are now marked as SPAM and sent straight into the blue pill letterbox…
Posted on 28-Apr-08 at 2:37 pm | Permalink
admin wrote:
Andreas: Thanks for the note. For the benefit of everyone else, I’d say you are probably referring to this article on my “main” website, describing the wacky antics of Reunion.com. I was mysteriously “signed up” by an unknown third party and received lots of rather bogus “reminders;” it took me a long time to get them to stop, but eventually they did. One hopes that StayFriends will also get it and stop annoying you.
Posted on 28-Apr-08 at 4:33 pm | Permalink