# Is anyone else getting spam with random words in the subject line? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 25, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-getting-spam-with-random-words-in-the-subject-line/332649 "2005-11-25T04:09:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-getting-spam-with-random-words-in-the-subject-line/332649/1 "2005-11-25T04:09:37Z")
They are the usual types of spam, _yes I opened a couple, so if that was the idea, IT WORKED!_ Here are examples: **Guilliormo fink duchess** **cometary stultify Stop** **Re: You kangaroo not cacm** **interruption see H cup not parboil Z** **maggoty ill vial flit** **Re: this harriman and venial** **Re: He complain by rapture** ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-getting-spam-with-random-words-in-the-subject-line/332649/2 "2005-11-25T04:29:01Z")
Yup. It’s one way they get past the spam filters. I’ve also noticed a sudden increase in the amount of spam I’ve been getting. I’m wondering who sold my email addy. (What I can’t understand are the “stock tip” spams. What kind of moron would buy _anything_ from spam, muchless stocks?) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-getting-spam-with-random-words-in-the-subject-line/332649/3 "2005-11-25T04:38:57Z")
I get them all the time. It is difficult to filter them out. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-getting-spam-with-random-words-in-the-subject-line/332649/4 "2005-11-25T04:45:46Z")
You shouldn’t let your vials get ill or maggoty. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-getting-spam-with-random-words-in-the-subject-line/332649/5 "2005-11-25T06:23:42Z")
Yes, but only via one particular e-mail address (which I set up almost 2 months ago). It strikes me as kind of weird that of 4 active addresses, only one of them is getting that kind of spam. Not that I’m complaining or anything. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-getting-spam-with-random-words-in-the-subject-line/332649/6 "2005-11-25T07:14:58Z")
My spamblocker catches things like that all the time. I’m also up to three notices from the FBI and five from the CIA about visiting illegal websites. Apparently Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie also wish I’d open that same 75 kb attachment. Wonder what their interest is? Think they want to do bad things to me? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-getting-spam-with-random-words-in-the-subject-line/332649/7 "2005-11-25T07:54:32Z")
Open it in the name of scientific curiousity. Report back here with your findings. We’re right behind you. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-getting-spam-with-random-words-in-the-subject-line/332649/8 "2005-11-25T07:58:17Z")
I have two email addresses. One is just for family and friends and I have never had spam on that address. The other I use whenever I have to give an email address for on-line shopping, or for registration, or whatever. I have tons of spam on that one and somehow, even though I am Gay, I get endless spam for things like, “hrny beeevers chcks 4 U!” I am surprised the print hasn’t worn off my delete button getting rid of that crap. That new FBI/CIA/Paris Hilton virus is at least clever. I am sure there are dimwits sitting at their computer complying with this edict from the government, or thinking they are getting a free, titillating view of Paris Hilton. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-getting-spam-with-random-words-in-the-subject-line/332649/9 "2005-11-25T08:00:54Z")
> [@John Carter of Mars](#): > > My spamblocker catches things like that all the time. Mine don’t. Which spamblocker are you using, may I ask? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-getting-spam-with-random-words-in-the-subject-line/332649/10 "2005-11-25T16:17:24Z")
> [@Inner Stickler](#): > > Open it in the name of scientific curiousity. Report back here with your findings. We’re right behind you. Gee, thanks! It’s so nice to have good friends. 🙂 > [@DMark](#): > > Originally Posted by John Carter of Mars > My spamblocker catches things like that all the time. > Mine don’t. Which spamblocker are you using, may I ask? Mine is the standard blocker that comes with _Earthlink_. It works by sending any email from a source that isn’t in my address book to a “suspect email” site. At that site, I can open the suspect and read it, delete it or send it to my 'puter and add the sender to my address book. Warning: On a scale of 1 to 10, my geekdom is a minus 9. That’s how it works from a user’s perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-getting-spam-with-random-words-in-the-subject-line/332649/11 "2005-11-25T17:13:43Z")
I use a commercial spam blocker (called Qurb) that’s similar to the one used by **John Carter of Mars**. It uses a “whitelist” in that mail from all addresses in my address book, sent items folder, or inbox comes through fine. All other mail is dumped in a suspect folder for me to review. Anything I want can be moved to the Inbox and the address is automatically added to the whitelist. This sort of spam blocker works very well for someone like me who rarely receives mail from new people. But if you often receive desired mail from people for the first time (say if you’re a newspaper editor), it won’t work as well.