Those pesky spammers are getting sneakier. Here is a comment that made it past Akismet, waiting for approval on one of my posts:
Hi! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay. I’m absolutely enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
What alerted me to the questionable nature of this comment was that the commenter asked about Twitter in order to read my posts. Why not just follow my blog? The other red flag was the username, which is Red Dining Room Furniture.
But this comment is grammatically correct, it’s logically stated (I mean, really, who doesn’t absolutely enjoy my blog?), and has the earmarks of someone who might not be a blogger but prefers other social mediums like Twitter. Also, the URL nor the email address are nothing unusual and actually has a person’s name instead of a company or a product.
I didn’t want to click on it because my overactive imagination saw my computer being infested with worms and other terrible vermin.
So, I emailed my savvy friend, LimebirdBeth at Limebird Writers, to ask her what she thought. This is a girl who can tap her shoes together and beautiful things happen. Beth confirmed it is indeed EVIL and to not approve the comment.
So, just a heads up to all bloggers out there. The bad guys are getting smarter. Watch your backs.
I haven’t seen that one, yet…but you’re right that, the first time a grammatically-correct spambot email crosses my path, I do take a second to read it. Most of the time, the email address or URL or IP is a dead giveaway. Of course, on very, very rare occasions, the message is legitimate…but it’s better to be safe than sorry. A truly conscientious and genuine reader/follower/contact should message again. You can always apologize at that point.
Good post, Kate! Spam is something people need to pay attention to every day. They are getting more clever.
Hey Mayumi,
Yes, I’m still learning the ropes and URLs or IPs can throw me off a bit. I definitely am more suspicious at comments that are generic and don’t allude to anything specific that I posted.
Thanks for swinging by.
Good on you for double checking. The thing that stood out to me is the question of whether it would be okay to follow you on twitter. I’ve never had anybody ask me before following!! Thanks for the heads up. Will be extra vigilant!
Hey Fandina,
Absolutely–I have never had anyone ask to follow me on Twitter. Besides, I have the widget right here in the sidebar. Huge red flag.
I marked the comment as spam, so hopefully Akismet will take care of that one in the future. Slam dunk!
I’ve been afraid something like this would happen! Interestingly, this morning I had *74* messages in my spam queue. That is an all-time record for me. I noticed they were picking up yesterday, and they must have really come in overnight.
I also noticed in my stats that someone clicked on a link that I didn’t recognize. It turned out to be some kind of “stock exchange” site. I pay WordPress NOT to have advertising on my blog, so I’m going to contact them about this one. Some “businesses” have started following my blog, which we can’t control. Are they real? Or are they shells for spamming/advertising?
Thanks for the warning!
Goodness! 74! That’s crazy. I don’t think I have had that many in one day. That is annoying to know that they’re sneaking in a back door like that. I don’t really study my stats to see what links are being clicked, but after reading your comment maybe I should. Who knows what’s going on behind my back…
By the way, thanks for your comment about my Day in the LIfe blurb. I couldn’t resist posting it, because it’s one of those scenes you could easily find in a movie. You’d think it was scripted. And Maddy was so deadpan in her reply which made it even funnier.
MMM pizza…. OK, now I’m distracted. So, things you need to look out for in a spammer is the nature of their post. Yes, the grammar is correct and it seems logical, but if it confuses you then it’s probably spam. Also, double check their email and web address. If these look shifty, then don’t approve them.
If you’re still not sure and have proper security (anti-virus) on your computer, then you could click through onto the link to double check what website it is. However, the main purpose of these spam comments is to get traffic to their sites, so clicking on them is kind of a win. Soooo, the moral of the story, if it looks fishy, it probably is!
B x
Good info, Beth. Thanks. Now I know more of what to look for regarding their URL. And you’re right, clicking on the links to doublecheck does backfire on us, doesn’t it. I’m so glad I know you!
Ps – I think I’m going to put this – ” This is a girl who can tap her shoes together and beautiful things happen.” on my CV!
Haha, yes, I think you should!
My eyebrows went up at the asking to follow you part. Now, I have approved a comment that was likely spam. However, it was linkless and exceedingly bland. Something along the lines of, “I liked this post.”
That was also at the start of my blogging career. Now, if I find something questionable, I google part of it in quotes and see how many identical messages I find.
Did Beth tell you how she knew it was spam (EVIL does seem a bit extreme, but then again…)?
Hey Shannon, some of them are innocuous and you don’t know what they’re really all about. I have finally decided that unless they’re commenting specifically to something I wrote, then it’s got to be spam.
Haha, I used the word “evil”. Beth only said that it was spam and to not approve it.
I have a feeling she just knew it was spam by looking at the URL, which for me, could go either way and I couldn’t decide. Her comment and advice (above) makes a lot of sense–that if there is any doubt, go with it. That’s what I’m going to do from now on. Even if the comment sounds legit.
I have not had that one yet but as my twitter is in my side bar if they couldn’t work out how to click the button and had to ask I would be worried lol
Absolutely! A real commenter would figure that out and more to the point wouldn’t ask for permission to follow. Before you know it, though, they’re going to figure out how to correct even that glitch. So beware!
Thanks for the heads up. I can usually pick out the Spam, but when it’s written grammatically correct – which most spams aren’t – it can throw you off a bit.
Yes, and after Beth pointed it out to me, the URL was a little on the strange side. So, I’m glad I asked and I learned more about how they operate. Hopefully, now that I marked it as spam, Akismet will be filtering it in the future. Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you Kate. Spammers are getting sneakier. Ever vigilant!
Good for you, Dennis!
Thanks, Kathryn. Happy weekend.
You as well, Kathryn
Thanks for the heads up. It is sometimes difficult to tell.
You’re welcome!
Eek! Thanks for the head’s up!
No problem!
Okay, what is it with that Avatar on the side of my name? Where do I change that? Do I have a tail?
No. I think that’s a tongue, with a suction cup at the end.
Yeah, sometimes those pop up, and you’re just not sure. I always feel bad if I delete a legitimate comment, but like you, I don’t want to cater to spammers.
Fortunately, I have never had to deal with accidentally deleting a legitimate comment. I think most bloggers are aware that they need to write their comments so that they aren’t confused with spam. The few who don’t, well, I’m sure they learn quickly!
“Hi, does 4am writer use Twitter”
“Oh no, she doesn’t use Twitter, OF COURSE SHE USES TWITTER- BUDDY, I MEAN, HEY, SINCE YOU ENJOY HER BLOG PAGE SO MUCH, WHY CAN’T YOU SEE ALL OF THE TWEETS, ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HER BLOG PAAAAGGGE, (MR./MS. I ABSOLUTELY ENJOY YOUR BLOG PAGE).
Yeah, that was a good catch, Coach. No lame, spammer folk on Coach KJs blog page please. That would be uncivilized.
Haha, again you make me burst out laughing. Exactly my thoughts! You have to wonder how spammers get away with some of their idiocy because if we just take a minute to think it through, more often than not it is sooo obvious it’s spam.
Yes. Uncivilized. You got it.
So far, so good. After the onslaught of airline spam, my spam folder stays pretty empty. Good luck!
Yay! Keep watching that folder, they’re lurking.
Appreciate the warning – salutory lesson not to trust too much to Akismet to spot. Spam is getting up front and personal
Yes, I think as long as we know they’re changing tactics then we are better armed to fend them off.
Hi! I have nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Congratulations!
http://wp.me/p27eXb-8Y
Thanks! I’ll have fun with it.
Be my guest!
I have received a lot of sophisticated spam comments but that one takes the prize. In the old days (before I had any visitors) I used to approve the spam comments, but change the username/e-mail and the actual comment, so it looked like I had a lot of fans. Hah!
Haha! That is really awesome. I never thought of that. That’s one way of using them to your advantage.
Thanks for the heads up. Mr or Ms. Furniture better not come near me.
All you have to do is throw your shoes at them and they’ll stay far away.
Thanks for the heads up, Kate! I’m so glad you recognized it. This sound s like a new one.
I would have felt like such an idiot if I’d gone ahead and approved them. I’m glad I double checked.
Too bad people can’t use their talents for something good and not evil, as I tell my kids all the time. Use your powers for good, not evil, I say. ; ) I will keep my eyes open. So senseless for us, writing benign blogs, to have to worry about.
Haha, I tell my kids that too!
It really is stupid that we have to worry about shielding our blogs from unwanteds. Oh well.
Great advice. It is bad news that they are getting smarter. More vigilance required.
Right on. If we’re all keeping an eye out, then they can’t overtake us!
They key for me is that it is waaaaaaaaaaaay too nice and polite for the Internet…………lol
Haha, that’s a very good point and one I will remember for the next one that tries to sneak by!
Yep, I’ve had one sneak through that really shouldn’t have. I kept it for a day or two trying to figure it out, but in the end, because I wasn’t sure, I just deleted it.
That seemed the retreat bet.
I have sat on some in the past, wondering like you, what’s up? I guess when we have to ask, then the answer can’t be good.
Ooooo these things grate against my nerves!
Me too! Hopefully the more aware we are, the less pesky they will be. Hopefully.
I hate those guys who have the mushroom icon picture and paste in a generic post and then try to link back to their writing jobs. Ahhh- no.
Now the mushroom has been altered to look like a green gem. They’re quite desperate, obviously.
Gosh, with all these spammers, hackers and goblins or trolls – it’s like fighting through a dark forest simply to write a blog – I wish I could shove them in cupboards like I can do with story people.
Haha! Me too, loony.
Yes, after reading your post – I noticed some that almost sneaked through – shame their spelling gave them away.
That’s a big giveaway. They’re either a spammer or a seven-year-old, lol.
Some of the spammers write like seven year olds!