Spammers using Fastmail

geoff2 · 28 Apr 2003, 02:53 AM

Hey:

A friend of mine who runs his own domain (and has had it for >10 years) and who has had the same e-mail address for the same amount of time predictably gets a lot of spam, and implements numerous measures to try to reduce it. One is blocking smtp servers that he thinks are large spamming sources. He claims that "fastmail is used regularly by spammers," and so he blocks it (and, thus, my e-mails from Fastmail).

Is there any way I can convince him that Fastmail is not "used regularly by spammers," if indeed it's not? (Or is it?) I recognize it will be hard to do, because he's blocking based on his own personal experiences getting lots of spam from Fastmail, but hopefully there's some information out there that might help.

Thanks.

Drencrom · 28 Apr 2003, 03:50 AM

The basic reason is that FastMail Guest users are not allowed SMTP.

**Sherry** · 28 Apr 2003, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by geoff2
Is there any way I can convince him that Fastmail is not "used regularly by spammers," if indeed it's not? (Or is it?) I recognize it will be hard to do, because he's blocking based on his own personal experiences getting lots of spam from Fastmail, but hopefully there's some information out there that might help.
Thanks.

I think your friend should read the paper Jeremy wrote on this matter.

http://jhoward.fastmail.fm/articles/spamcop_reply.html

Sherry

geoff2 · 28 Apr 2003, 04:37 AM

Quote:

I think your friend should read the paper Jeremy wrote on this matter.

http://jhoward.fastmail.fm/articles/spamcop_reply.html

Sherry

Thank you Sherry. I went ahead and passed that link along.

elvey · 28 Apr 2003, 05:05 AM

Unfortunately, several spammers are currently using FM to spam. They're often using the webmail interface. FM tends to nuke them though. Perhaps that will convince your friend, perhaps there are additional steps FM needs to take.

igp · 28 Apr 2003, 05:22 AM

yup.... no more guest users.......?

elvey · 28 Apr 2003, 05:51 AM

No! The spam isn't only sent by guest users! see FeatureSuggestionsFiltering#Anti-Spam on the wiki for suggestions.

denverharless · 28 Apr 2003, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by elvey
Unfortunately, several spammers are currently using FM to spam. They're often using the webmail interface.

How does one use the webmail interface to send spam? That would be incredibly inefficient, I would think.

eggman · 28 Apr 2003, 06:52 AM

I guess they automate sending via the web interface..

sjk · 28 Apr 2003, 06:53 AM

Apparently people have paid for non-Guest FastMail accounts with stolen credit card numbers.

Business/advertising benefits aside, I wonder about the support impact guest access can have on services. As that relates to FastMail:

http://www.emaildiscussions.com/...3732#post73732

I think it's a sure bet most guest users are only interested in yet another free e-mail service without any intention of ever paying (like, it's a cool and fashionable

), tho' the majority of them won't abuse it.

**Sherry** · 28 Apr 2003, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sjk
Business/advertising benefits aside, I wonder about the support impact guest access can have on services. As that relates to FastMail:

So far, I think FastMail has kept up with the needs of "all" users as far as the services go and they don't give personal support to Guest users. (IMHO)

Sherry

sjk · 28 Apr 2003, 07:53 AM

Regardless of account level you've gotta admit that much of the FastMail support on this forum is personal, just not private.

Anyhoo, that relates to discussion in How to get support from fastmail.fm? so I won't drift off-topic anymore here.

robert@fm · 29 Apr 2003, 03:10 AM

There's one idiot out there (I think his domain is rhyolite.com) who's convinced that "all free email services are spam-ridden"; I've refuted his claim by pointing out that FM is not, but I doubt that he'll listen...

And in any case, since spammers are thieves anyway, if forced (one way or another) away from the free services, they'll just (as already indicated) sign up for paid services using stolen credit card numbers...

elvey · 29 Apr 2003, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by harless
How does one use the webmail interface to send spam? That would be incredibly inefficient, I would think.

Spam is incredibly inefficient inherently. You're spamming a zillion people hoping that slightly more than 0.0% buy. Your point? The evidence shows that it's happening. Regularly.

hadaso · 29 Apr 2003, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by robert@fm
... since spammers are thieves anyway, if forced (one way or another) away from the free services, they'll just (as already indicated) sign up for paid services using stolen credit card numbers...

So if FastMail has the info that someone has sent spam using a stolen credit card, they have all the info needed for the police to take action: The spam message has all the info leading to the party that is advertising something: there must be some link to a website, or a telephone number, and there's a crime comitted that's proven: a credit card or credit card number was stolen. That's enough for the police to investigate. The advertiser is either the party who used the stolen credit card number, or can lead to that party, or if they refuse to cooperate, they are in trouble with the police. Not to mention that if someone has used stolen credit card to advertise their business through FastMail, then FastMail can sue them for damages.

28 Apr 2003, 02:53 AM	#1
geoff2 Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 49	Spammers using Fastmail Hey: A friend of mine who runs his own domain (and has had it for >10 years) and who has had the same e-mail address for the same amount of time predictably gets a lot of spam, and implements numerous measures to try to reduce it. One is blocking smtp servers that he thinks are large spamming sources. He claims that "fastmail is used regularly by spammers," and so he blocks it (and, thus, my e-mails from Fastmail). Is there any way I can convince him that Fastmail is not "used regularly by spammers," if indeed it's not? (Or is it?) I recognize it will be hard to do, because he's blocking based on his own personal experiences getting lots of spam from Fastmail, but hopefully there's some information out there that might help. Thanks.

28 Apr 2003, 03:50 AM	#2
Drencrom Master of the @ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Ultima Thule Posts: 1,657	The basic reason is that FastMail Guest users are not allowed SMTP.

28 Apr 2003, 05:05 AM	#5
elvey The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 2,458	Unfortunately, several spammers are currently using FM to spam. They're often using the webmail interface. FM tends to nuke them though. Perhaps that will convince your friend, perhaps there are additional steps FM needs to take.

28 Apr 2003, 05:22 AM	#6
igp = Permanently banned = Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 150	yup.... no more guest users.......?

28 Apr 2003, 05:51 AM	#7
elvey The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 2,458	No! The spam isn't only sent by guest users! see FeatureSuggestionsFiltering#Anti-Spam on the wiki for suggestions.

28 Apr 2003, 06:52 AM	#9
eggman Essential Contributor Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: AU Posts: 471	I guess they automate sending via the web interface..

28 Apr 2003, 06:53 AM	#10
sjk Master of the @ Join Date: May 2002 Location: Eugene Posts: 1,975	Apparently people have paid for non-Guest FastMail accounts with stolen credit card numbers. Business/advertising benefits aside, I wonder about the support impact guest access can have on services. As that relates to FastMail: http://www.emaildiscussions.com/...3732#post73732 I think it's a sure bet most guest users are only interested in yet another free e-mail service without any intention of ever paying (like, it's a cool and fashionable ), tho' the majority of them won't abuse it.

28 Apr 2003, 07:53 AM	#12
sjk Master of the @ Join Date: May 2002 Location: Eugene Posts: 1,975	Regardless of account level you've gotta admit that much of the FastMail support on this forum is personal, just not private. Anyhoo, that relates to discussion in How to get support from fastmail.fm? so I won't drift off-topic anymore here.

29 Apr 2003, 03:10 AM	#13
robert@fm The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 4,681	There's one idiot out there (I think his domain is rhyolite.com) who's convinced that "all free email services are spam-ridden"; I've refuted his claim by pointing out that FM is not, but I doubt that he'll listen... And in any case, since spammers are thieves anyway, if forced (one way or another) away from the free services, they'll just (as already indicated) sign up for paid services using stolen credit card numbers...