Dear Customer: ACTION REQUIRED

[specialist]

Dear Customer: ACTION REQUIRED: We have determined that your computer(s) have been used to send unsolicited email ("spam"), which is generally an indicator of a virus. For your own protection and that of other customers, we have taken steps to prevent further transmission of spam from your computer(s).

I haven't sent any spam mails using my computer. However, I did use an email spider to get some emails. But I didn't send out any. So far, I have only "spammed" registered users of my websites, and I use my web server to send emails.

Why did I get this notice? Any thoughts..

[sn1per]

Ask them for a copy of the offending mail to determine the issue.

[TGnerdcore]

your on a botnet

[linx]

Check your IP to see if it's SBL'd

[specialist]

Okay, I will send my ISP an email requesting a copy of the email in question.

I don't think I'm on a botnet. My router has a hardware firewall and I have antivirus/firewall on all of the machines connected to the internet.

I checked to see if my IP was blacklisted @ spamhaus.org , and it's not.

I'm pretty sure one of my members reported my IP to my ISP or worse. I sent myself an email from my server, and it forwarded my local IP in the headers. I was hoping to see the servers IP, but nope. I wish I would've checked that earlier.

The date on the email from my ISP was March 4th, and that's around the time I sent out a mass email to my site members. Since March 4th Ive sent about 4 other mass emails, I hope someone doesn't report me again. :\.

And from now on I'm using proxies.

[linx]

I hope your whois info isn't available, using proxies will get you into more trouble there.

[specialist]

It's not. What if I install a cgi proxy on my server, and use it via browser to send emails to site members? So that it will forward the servers ip, and not my local ip in the headers. Would that be okay?

Also, What is the most likely way that I got reported? Did someone just click "Report Spam" in their email client?

Thanks

[awol]

When Time Warner disconnected my cable (2k2, I think) for spamming, I just called back after two days and played super stupid. "I took my computer in to the PC Club and they said I have a...hold on let me get the paper...::CRUMPLING PAPER IN BG::...TRO-JAN HORSE? Does that mean anything to you?"

At the time, I was sending 10MM/day w/ no proxies and my connection was back on within an hr. Try it. ;)


Also, if you mail registered site members and they aren't double-opt or are old members (believe it or not people are stupid and forget what they regged for), you don't honor removes, etc , you can still get complaints.

[specialist]

lol...I'll have to try that if I get any more emails from my ISP lol.

Yeah..I do have alot of members that aren't active, but none of them have requested to be removed. One of the emails I sent out said that I was going to delete un-active members in the near future, and if they don't want their account deleted to login to re-activate it lol.

I guess I'll go ahead and delete unactive members, and in the future put a disclaimer/opt out in the footer of emails.

[awol]

I guess I'll go ahead and delete unactive members, and in the future put a disclaimer/opt out in the footer of emails.

If you're going to try to keep your mails legit, you have to do those things anyways. Technically, you're spamming. :P

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/canspam.shtm

[specialist]

okay thanks. do you have any idea how that email got reported to my ISP? i'm kinda paranoid :\.

[linx]

okay thanks. do you have any idea how that email got reported to my ISP? i'm kinda paranoid :\.

you'd be surprised what antis are up to considering they have no life aka spam traps, in your case I'd be surprised if thats what it was, you probably have a disgruntled member



also using proxies isn't illegal (unless if its from a bot of course) it's the fact that you're hiding your IP is what makes it illegal