Anti-Spammers Infiltrate Private Online Spam Clubs

Anti-Spammers Infiltrate Private Online Spam Clubs 411

Posted by simoniker on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:46PM from the spy-in-the-house-of-spam dept.

Angry_Admin writes " Spammers are now trying to find out which antispammers have infiltrated their ranks and are sharing "sensitive" info with fellow antispammers. According to the story at The Register: 'Online spammer forums like the Pro Bulk Club the Bulk Club and bulkmails.org have been gatecrashed by activists from organisations like Spamhaus. Steve Linford of Spamhaus said spammers know this already but they don't know who amongst their number is working for the other side. In theory the members-only forums of these sites is accessible only by invitation and only to individuals who have a proven track record in spamming. Apart from playing with the paranoia of spammers, the undercover investigation cast light on the latest spammer techniques.' Hopefully the spammers aren't that bright and the antispammers stick around long enough to bring them down."

Anti-Spammers Infiltrate Private Online Spam Clubs

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Tsk tsk... (Score:5, Funny)

by grub ( 11606 ) writes: <slashdot@grub.net> on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:47PM (#9176965) Homepage Journal

Someone forgot the first rule of Spam Club...

James Bond of the Spam world? (Score:2, Funny)

by Xshare ( 762241 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:48PM (#9176975) Homepage

Well 3 cheers to these fellows! I wonder how they got in if it's invitation only.

For Spammers By Spammers (Score:4, Funny)

by SirChris ( 676927 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:48PM (#9176981) Journal

So there are forums out there for spammers by spammers? Do these forums get spammed also? I, personally, would love to leave a few choice words on those forums.

Just a list of names is all we need... (Score:5, Funny)

by mobiux ( 118006 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:49PM (#9176989)

If someone could get that, we could, at least temporarily, reduce this problem.

I've got a baseball bat and loads of free time.

Re:James Bond of the Spam world? (Score:5, Funny)

by SnowDeath ( 157414 ) writes: <peteguhl@NoSpam.gmail.com> on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:49PM (#9176990) Homepage

Post your email address and I'll tell you ;)

Spammers (Score:4, Funny)

by cynicalmoose ( 720691 ) writes: <giles.robertson@westminster.org.uk> on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:49PM (#9176995) Homepage

Hold on, to join you must need an e-mail address. Surely that means that this is a wonderful harvesting opportunity (or even better, does it allow people to avoid being spammed if the spammers believe them to be on 'their' side).

Re:Anti-spammers will never infiltrate (Score:3, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:49PM (#9177000)

Anti-spammers will never infiltrate ...slashdot FP's.

and unfortunately, neither will you!

Re:James Bond of the Spam world? (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:49PM (#9177002)

> I wonder how they got in if it's invitation only.

I imagine they received many invitations, and simply didn't opt-out by clicking on the handy links at the bottom.

hmmm (Score:3, Funny)

by LordK3nn3th ( 715352 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:49PM (#9177005)

*builds a facility strangely resembling a german concentration camp*

*puts up a sign that says "Spammers Only Club"*

*rubs hands devilishly*

Who might be? (Score:1, Funny)

by ospirata ( 565063 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:49PM (#9177006)

Who might be the ones that are infiltrating the spammer club?
Those bastards should stop chasing the poor and nice spammer guys!

Re:James Bond of the Spam world? (Score:5, Funny)

by Kenja ( 541830 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:50PM (#9177012)

"Well 3 cheers to these fellows! I wonder how they got in if it's invitation only."
The same way I keep getting added to all these "opt-in" spam lists.

Did Anyone.... (Score:2, Funny)

by StacyWebb ( 780561 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:52PM (#9177031) Homepage

notice the ad at the bottom of the article?

Re:Not just a tree house club (Score:5, Funny)

by Kenja ( 541830 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:53PM (#9177038)

Companies need some way to sell their sugar pills, I mean H3r84L V149r4!!!!!!

Knowing your enemy... (Score:5, Funny)

by StressGuy ( 472374 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:55PM (#9177064)

Let's see, what were the club names?

Pro Bulk Club

The Bulk Club

bulkmails.org

Egads, with such a raw display of creative thinking, we don't stand a chance. [grin]

Did I leave out "The Incredible Bulk"? (Score:5, Funny)

by StressGuy ( 472374 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:58PM (#9177096)

sorry, I'll get back to work now....

Re:Don't doubt the Spammers IQ (Score:2, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @04:58PM (#9177101)

"They're bypassing the zillions of filters I have set up like they're bound and determined to enlarge my penis"

If they're trying that hard, it must be a "can't lose" business opporunity.

Re:For Spammers By Spammers (Score:5, Funny)

by Allen Zadr ( 767458 ) * writes: <Allen.Zadr@nOspaM.gmail.com> on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:00PM (#9177116) Journal

What gets to me about spammers... They obviously feel they are doing the world a favor by offering sexual deficiency drugs, pain-killers of questionable legality and mortgages for those with bad credit.
I always picture spammers as bereft of libedo and credit, with drug abuse problems. Really, wouldn't that explain a lot?

Re:Tsk tsk... (Score:3, Funny)

by Bluetrust25 ( 647829 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:00PM (#9177121)

"After a night in bulk club, everything in the real world gets the volume turned down. Nothing can piss you off. Your word is law, and if other people break that law or question you, even that doesn't piss you off."

Maybe this parody of Fight Club helps shine insight on how spammers can sleep peacefully knowing full well that millions of barbs of dislike and spite are pointed their way. What do they care? They've got the bulk club.

Go play at AloofHosting.com, free web hosting that makes sense [aloofhosting.com].

Spam club invitations are available here... (Score:5, Funny)

by joelparker ( 586428 ) writes: <joel@school.net> on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:00PM (#9177122) Homepage

Dear Sir/Madam, I approach you with this offer due to the recent death of [county] Minister of Justice [name] because there is a secret bank deposit box, containing the sum of two (2) invitations to spam club. Half of these can be yours, generously. Email for details. P.S. the box also has six p3n!s enl.ar.ge.rs, five bottles of the blu* pi11 C:@l:s, and the absolute L0WEST *R*A*T*E*S for yr. m-ort-ga-ge & /\UTO W@rrn+iez.

Re:James Bond of the Spam world? (Score:5, Funny)

by grub ( 11606 ) writes: <slashdot@grub.net> on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:01PM (#9177136) Homepage Journal

I wonder how they got in if it's invitation only.

Dress in dark camoflage.
Shoot grappling hook to rail around roof.
Get to rooftop, shoot guard on balcony with silenced .22
Remove camoflage.
Use suction cup on skylight, cut out pane of glass and discard.
Secure rope and drop into upper floor office.
Climb down rope.
Use chloroform-soaked rag on guard outside office door.'
Pull out CDR with "email addresses" written in Sharpie Marker on it.
Walk down to party, take glass of champagne from waiter.
Send signal to antispammers telling them you're in.

Duh, how else do you think they did it?

The Register and funny ad placement... (Score:2, Funny)

by Ratfactor ( 15886 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:02PM (#9177145) Journal

From the article:

"People selling these fresh proxies are either the virus writers themselves or someone very close to them. I don't know how ties between spammers and virus writers was first forged but there is clearly a strong link there," he added.

Followed immediately by:
"The new Microsoft Partner Programme is here."

Good stuff.

Re:For Spammers By Spammers (Score:4, Funny)

by Oliver Wendell Jones ( 158103 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:02PM (#9177147)

I imagine when they review the forum postings and see "DIE YOU EVIL SPAMMING SCUM!" they just say "tsk, tsk, I don't want to see this crap in my forums... I wonder if there is software that can prevent people from sending me this crap? There should be a way to opt out of this! Why, this return e-mail is fake so I can't even complain! There should be a law!"...

Re:Tsk tsk... (Score:5, Funny)

by macshune ( 628296 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:05PM (#9177178) Journal

>Someone forgot the first rule of Spam Club...

If it's your first night, you have to spam?

Good, this is progress. (Score:5, Funny)

by Vthornheart ( 745224 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:07PM (#9177205)

Now, just give me a shotgun, a case of ammo, and a list of related addresses. It's about time we sent unsolicited E-Mailers some unsolicited lead pellets.

Re:For Spammers By Spammers (Score:3, Funny)

by secolactico ( 519805 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:12PM (#9177241) Journal

They obviously feel they are doing the world a favor by offering sexual deficiency drugs, pain-killers of questionable legality and mortgages for those with bad credit.

They probably don't. They are simply making (or trying to make) a buck out of people ingenuity. I doubt they are so self deluded as to believe in a weight loss method that involves neither drugs, surgery, diet or exercise (must be magic, I guess), or similar products.

My favorite is the one where they offer to erase my bad credit history. Will they give me a new identity as well? How about a criminal record? Can they make those go away too?

Strange thing (Score:5, Funny)

by bizitch ( 546406 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:14PM (#9177271) Homepage

I cant seem to get to that website "bulkmails.org"

I keep hitting my refresh button over and over and over and over and over again - but it doesn't come up ....

hmmmmmm....

Re:Don't doubt the Spammers IQ (Score:5, Funny)

by Glamdrlng ( 654792 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:15PM (#9177282)

Which makes me wonder, if it were a wild west situation where anything goes, and anti-spammers were allows to break the law in the same manner, would these spammers still be in business, or would there basically be a bounty on the heads of spammers.

The first thought that comes to mind is, take the source code for phatbot (it is GPL'd after all), strip out the bits about exploiting microsoft vulnerabilities, but leave in the code that exploits machines listening on the backdoors left by bagel, netsky, and mydoom, and give it a payload that shuts the machine down.

No, it's not very nice, and yes, it would piss people off. But this is the anything goes solution.

Once You're In... (Score:2, Funny)

by tds67 ( 670584 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:16PM (#9177291)

...you can never leave the Spamafia.
You'll know you're in trouble when you find a penis enlarger or a bottle of Viagra pills on your pillow.

Gee (Score:3, Funny)

by AstrumPreliator ( 708436 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:21PM (#9177333)

I wonder if they have a 'No Spam' rule in the forum rules to try and keep down the mass amounts of spam posts. But then the forums would be stifling it's own members.

What a dilemma!

Re:FYI (Score:3, Funny)

by cft_128 ( 650084 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:21PM (#9177338)

Some of the "infiltrators" are actually people working at the ISPs hosting these private forums.
Not any more....

Spammer websites are funny (Score:4, Funny)

by kettch ( 40676 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:24PM (#9177361) Homepage

I found this quote on one of the websites (http://www.emaillistclub.com/ [emaillistclub.com])

We will arm you with the knowledge to make killer sales copy so you can convert a lot of those who open your sales letter into sales today!

Oh, yEaH, sPaMmers write the best ad copy of anybody !!!!!!!!!!

Just 5 minutes, a monkey, a pound of salt, three feet of cat-5, 1 match, a can of orange paint (oil base), a magnet, a ream of copy paper, 1 square meter of bubble wrap, a laser pointer, one spammer, and a small room. That's all I ask.

Re:Tsk tsk... (Score:2, Funny)

by Mesaeus ( 692570 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:33PM (#9177428)

Maybe it's because we've all got his sig blocked due to spam ? ;)

Re:Now that you mention it ... (Score:5, Funny)

by bladernr ( 683269 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:36PM (#9177467)

but after a while it became pretty clear that the deal is this: he's going to be running a site selling Brazilian sex tours
Did you get the URL for that? For research I mean, so I can block mail... or something... whatever... WHAT'S THE URL?!
(note to self... don't forget to click AC box).. DAMN

Re:Now that you mention it ... (Score:4, Funny)

by Cpt_Kirks ( 37296 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:36PM (#9177469)

Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty ... ...and a really, really sharp knife.

Re:Once You're In... (Score:3, Funny)

by hambonewilkins ( 739531 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:45PM (#9177556)

Viagra? All I'm familiar with is V!_agra or Herbal V I A G5A.
Is Viagra some generic version?

Re:James Bond of the Spam world? (Score:4, Funny)

by pyros ( 61399 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:45PM (#9177563) Journal

Well 3 cheers to these fellows! I wonder how they got in if it's invitation only.
Well, Sir Gallahad, Sir Lancelot, and I hid inside a giant wooden Hormel crate in front of the castle ....

Re:Flynn Effect (Score:2, Funny)

by Brandybuck ( 704397 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:47PM (#9177577) Homepage Journal

I thought the Flynn Effect was about hacking into the Master Control Program...

Re:Now that you mention it ... (Score:3, Funny)

by Daniel Dvorkin ( 106857 ) * writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @05:56PM (#9177644) Homepage Journal

Well, yes, that did occur to me. We were pretty close to the grill, with assorted metal implements lying around; BBQ'ed spam would have made for a great addition to the food table! But he was a friend of the host, and I thought it would be rude. ;)

So Where Are the Cops? (Score:5, Funny)

by StormyMonday ( 163372 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @06:05PM (#9177723) Homepage

Let's see. Class III narcotics? Check. Stock market pump 'n dump? Check. Nigerian scams? Check. Hijacked machines? Check.

All of these are seriously illegal.

So where are the cops?

It'd be amusing (yes, I have a sick sense of humor) to find out that everybody in the chat room was a cop, just waiting for a real spammer to log in ...

Re:Just a list of names is all we need... (Score:5, Funny)

by Sponge Bath ( 413667 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @06:09PM (#9177755)

I've got a baseball bat and loads of free time.
Make sure you leave the bat at the scene so it looks like a suicide.

Re:Tsk tsk... (Score:3, Funny)

by milkman_matt ( 593465 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @06:09PM (#9177756)

Maybe it's because we've all got his sig blocked due to spam ? ;)

I can't block sigs... otherwise I'll never know who wrote the comment! Seriously, other than my friends/fans icons I never remember names, I always remember sigs, am I the only one? hehe.

-matt

Re:Tsk tsk... (Score:2, Funny)

by jnicholson ( 733344 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @06:49PM (#9178138) Homepage

You're not.
It's because the name's at the top. When I read the name, I haven't yet been able to determine whether the comment's worth reading. After I've read the comment, then I read the sig. That's when I make the snap judgement about the poster.
All subconscious, of course. But I'm sure that's why I remember the sigs and not the names.

When Spammers and Anti-Spammers Collide (Score:3, Funny)

by ChopsMIDI ( 613634 ) writes: on Monday May 17, 2004 @10:16PM (#9179595) Homepage

When a spammer and an anti-spammer collide, they annihilate each other.

Re:Now that you mention it ... (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Tuesday May 18, 2004 @01:43PM (#9185891)

Yes I DO! And oooh you are in SUCH trouble when you get home!

There may be more comments in this discussion. Without JavaScript enabled, you might want to turn on Classic Discussion System in your preferences instead.

Tsk tsk... (Score:5, Funny)

James Bond of the Spam world? (Score:2, Funny)

For Spammers By Spammers (Score:4, Funny)

Just a list of names is all we need... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:James Bond of the Spam world? (Score:5, Funny)

Spammers (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Anti-spammers will never infiltrate (Score:3, Funny)

Re:James Bond of the Spam world? (Score:5, Funny)

hmmm (Score:3, Funny)

Who might be? (Score:1, Funny)

Re:James Bond of the Spam world? (Score:5, Funny)

Did Anyone.... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Not just a tree house club (Score:5, Funny)

Knowing your enemy... (Score:5, Funny)

Did I leave out "The Incredible Bulk"? (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Don't doubt the Spammers IQ (Score:2, Funny)

Re:For Spammers By Spammers (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Tsk tsk... (Score:3, Funny)

Spam club invitations are available here... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:James Bond of the Spam world? (Score:5, Funny)

The Register and funny ad placement... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:For Spammers By Spammers (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Tsk tsk... (Score:5, Funny)

Good, this is progress. (Score:5, Funny)

Re:For Spammers By Spammers (Score:3, Funny)

Strange thing (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Don't doubt the Spammers IQ (Score:5, Funny)

Once You're In... (Score:2, Funny)

Gee (Score:3, Funny)

Re:FYI (Score:3, Funny)

Spammer websites are funny (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Tsk tsk... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Now that you mention it ... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Now that you mention it ... (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Once You're In... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:James Bond of the Spam world? (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Flynn Effect (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Now that you mention it ... (Score:3, Funny)

So Where Are the Cops? (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Just a list of names is all we need... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Tsk tsk... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Tsk tsk... (Score:2, Funny)

When Spammers and Anti-Spammers Collide (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Now that you mention it ... (Score:1, Funny)

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