[Mailman-Users] How do the spammers do it?

[JLB]

On Sun, 15 May 2005, Christophe Meessen wrote:

> Date: Sun, 15 May 2005 13:38:55 +0200
> From: Christophe Meessen <christophe at meessen.net>
> To: Heather Madrone <heather at madrone.com>
> Cc: mailman-users at python.org
> Subject: Re: [Mailman-Users] How do the spammers do it?
> 
> If each user used a specific address to post to the list, one would know
> the source of inspiration of the spammer. For public lists it would not
> be easy to setup though.
>
> Another method which I suspect was used for this purpose is to send to
> each subcriber a mail with a specific reply-to address in the form
> reply+12345 at domain.com. Where 12345 is a user identifier. In this mail
> you request that users reply to confirm that the address is used by a
> real person and operational.
>
> spybots that collect valid email addresses would collect this address
> once the requested reply is sent by the user. If the spammer use this
> address you would then know its source of inspiration.
>

I just don't get it. Nobody on this mailing list would be stupid enough to 
fall for a spammer. Isn't there some way we can track these morons down 
and say "HEY IDIOT, GO SPAM AOL OR SOMETHING AND LEAVE US TECHIES ALONE"?

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J. L. Blank, Systems Administrator, twu.net