> >I never signed up for this! Send CONFIRMATION emails BEFORE > >mindlessly signing people up to prevent unauthorized signups! > > http://spamcop.net/w3m?i=z82451690z7ace8a3499a4c 47e3d2714d14424bca0z > Spamvertised website: http://spamfilter.website101.com > > http://spamfilter.website101.com is 66.216.72.170; Sat, 25 May 2002 03:34:38 GMT

The following is a copy of daily horoscope list that I host that was falsely accused of spamming by someone that was signed up by a usually well-meaning friend who simply wants to share a horoscope they think has particular meaning for their friend or relative. I don't condone this, and I wish that subscribers wouldn't do it, but it is rather harmless, isn't it? Notice advertisers (who also get spam notices from SpamCops.) > > AstrologySender.com presents Horoscopes Daily > Brandi Jasmine, Editor > > ¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶ > > AstrologySender.com powered by Astrology.ca > > You are receiving this issue because you subscribed > Unsubscribe by using address at bottom of page. > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > > ==> Sponsor Ad: SpamFilter! > ==> Today's Horoscopes > ==> UniqueSender.com Themed Portals in YOUR Interests! > ==> Classified ads: Healing Oat Bath Mix > ------------------------------------------------------------ > > Fed UP with SPAM? Finally, there's a Solution! > > SpamFilter Cleans your inbox Before you check email! > If you are spending too much time deleting unwanted > commercial email and stopping pornographic images > from filling your inbox. Check out SpamFilter! > > 7 Day Free Trial if you sign up this week! > > http://spamfilter.website101.com > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > To have your ad appear above send for our ad rate card > mailto:ads@AstrologySender.com > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > 25-05-2002 > > Aries > > Don't try to push your values or priorities on a friend today. Even > if you are in right, effort could backfire, leaving a lot > of negative feelings instead of positive effect you had hoped > to generate. You won't be at your most patient or tolerant today. >

Most Horoscopes have been removed, come sign up if you want yours! I'm willing to bet complainer was an Aries. ;-) The end is included here to show UNSUBSCRIBE notice and additional advertiser that was an unwitting victim of this Spam Vigilante.

> Pisces > > You are likely to make spontaneous trips or excursions today, but > they are not likely to turn out like you hoped. It's okay if this > takes place relatively close to home, but a spur of moment > cross-country trip is definitely not a good idea. > > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > Healing Oat Bath Mix for Sunburn Damaged Skin > > Soothes and heals sunburn damaged sensitive skin > Use as a poultice to relieve when sunscreen failed > > http://www.pennyisland.com > > AOL Members Click Here > ------------------------------------------------------------ >

The plainly visible directions for unsubscribing included in every email.

> Visit following address to subscribe and unsubscribe. > > http://guidelists.com:81/guest/RemoteListSummary/Astrology_CA > > click link above, enter your email address > click "unsubscribe" click "submit" button > > --

The following info comes directly from SpamCop.net web site and links will take you to their FAQ pages. SpamCop FAQ http://spamcop.net/fom-serve/cache/1.html

SpamCop ISP and mailing list admin FAQs : http://spamcop.net/fom-serve/cache/75.html

I have been falsely and/or maliciously accused of spamming, what can I do?

http://spamcop.net/fom-serve/cache/167.html

The following is text directly from SpamCop from that last link. Save it for inevitable day that YOU are persued by Vigilantes.

"False spam reports are not tolerated. Users who file false reports will be banned from SpamCop service and/or fined. However, in order to take action, we must see proof of wrongdoing. If you would like to take action against a user who has erroneously accused you of spamming, please forward to deputies@admin.spamcop.net:

The entire SpamCop report, including full headers and entire spam.

Proof that user in question did subscribe for your list.

(Proof can be a log excerpt or a copy of returned, e-mailed confirmation. There must be proof of a two-way, secure confirmation. This must include IPs and datestamps for two stages - both a signup and a confirmation.)

If you would like to pursue action with user's internet provider SpamCop reports include all information you need to do so. IP address and datestamp of complainant are included in report. You can even feed a SpamCop report to SpamCop to determine originating point."

I encoded many of email links on my site with UNICODE symbols in an attempt to foil harvesting software and then immediately got a note from someone doing spamming in an attempt to end spam (!!!) who offered a tool to encode my emails with UNICODE! It must be a joke site because their links don't work and spam sent encouraging me to go encode my emails actually showed my address in UNICODE BEFORE their enocoding! For those of you that haven't used this little trick it's detailed in an article (along with a dozen other articles on spam issues) at:

http://website101.com/SpamFilter/spambot_unicode.html

I also recommend two others, one that details a list of anti-spam techniques and a second that lists resources to fight spam.

http://website101.com/SpamFilter/spam_fighting.html http://website101.com/SpamFilter/spamfilter.html

I finally decided I'd had enough of it and signed up for a paid service that cleans my emailbox every twenty minutes and removes latest load of stupid promotions -- before I retrieve my mail. It is such a valuable service and worked so well for me that I've begun reselling that service from my site. A free trial is available.

OK, well, now I can rest easy, right? NO! Now I'VE been ACCUSED of spamming and complaints have been registered with SpamCop! I host a daily horoscope list with about 4500 subscribers that is very popular. I get notes (to astrologer, Brandi Jasmine) regularly raving about how much they enjoy daily list. Someone was apparently subscribed by a friend or relative without their permission and they sent nasty notes (anonymously through SpamCop) screeching at me to stop spamming them! Details and full story are available at following address:

http://website101.com/SpamFilter/spamcop_vigilanties.html

I think SPAM will be death of me. I'm so tired of fighting it, writing about it and being accused of it myself! I've done all I can to require double opt-in to all my lists. But I'm a list publisher of sorts online and either must learn to live with issue or quit. I won't quit -- but sometimes it sure is tempting. Less tolerant souls could end up "going Postal." The problem is that only thing I can damage in my rage would be my own computer.

Spammers drive Ferrari's while driving us all nuts. Go figure.