# Reap the Whirlwind, Bastard Harvesting Spammers

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reap-the-whirlwind-bastard-harvesting-spammers/33154>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [September 14, 2000, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reap-the-whirlwind-bastard-harvesting-spammers/33154 "2000-09-14T06:17:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2000, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reap-the-whirlwind-bastard-harvesting-spammers/33154/21 "2000-09-15T01:43:03Z")

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i hate that, i always get spam for online gambling and casinos. i have not even gone to the boats that sail in lake michigan.  
and why do i get so many spam for mortgage refinancing , home equity loans and the “accept any credit card now!!!”  
damnit all, i am bewlidered by it, why do they think i need a home equity loan, when i am trying to move?

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**Author:** ![Eo\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@Eo\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eo_Echo)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2000, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reap-the-whirlwind-bastard-harvesting-spammers/33154/22 "2000-09-15T03:39:59Z")

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Spam (at least the e-mail variety) has not been a problem. Neither has real spam. The trick with that stuff is to slice it real thin and fry it up quick.

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**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2000, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reap-the-whirlwind-bastard-harvesting-spammers/33154/23 "2000-09-15T10:37:39Z")

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I sometimes get spam that is not only addressed **to** me but is shown as being **from** me. How does that happen?

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**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2000, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reap-the-whirlwind-bastard-harvesting-spammers/33154/24 "2000-09-15T17:01:37Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by LouisB \*  
> \*\*I sometimes get spam that is not only addressed **to** me but is shown as being **from** me. How does that happen? \*\*

The “from” field is a meaningless field, the spammer can (and does) put any addy in there

Good spam fighting primers can be found here  
[http://www.whew.com/Spammers/index.shtml](http://www.whew.com/Spammers/index.shtml)

and [http://www.tmisnet.com/~strads/spamhunt/index.html](http://www.tmisnet.com/~strads/spamhunt/index.html)

1. never reply directly to a spammers return addy…go upstream
2. never post your real email addy in the open or on a web page (unless its munged)…web spiders harvest them …I only give my REAL addy out to verified humans that I trust
3. Those who wish to fight the good fight may consider joining CAUSE , lobbying for anti spam legislation, or perusing the usenet group NANAE  
(net admin nat abuse-email)  
rule number 1: spammers ALWAYS lie

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