SEO Scams – SEO Marketing Hall of Shame
- Feb, 02 2010
- By Clay
- SEO
- 53 comments
“There’s an old saying in Tennessee – I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee – that says, spam me once, shame on – shame on you. Spam me – you can’t get spammed again.” – President George W. Bush
Are any of these SEO companies legit. Who knows? Personally I don’t care. I just know that their spam won’t stop. I get a daily stream of outrageous promises of number one rankings, fake warnings that my website is not showing up in the search engines, and alleged “special relationship” with Google. For this, these people deserve a spot in my SEO Marketers Hall of Shame. “But these offers sound so good, maybe I should call them up!” Sure, if you want to get ripped off, go ahead, but I’ll give you three bits of advice that are nearly guaranteed to keep you from getting duped:
1. Unsolicited email offers are designed to make them money, not you. Don’t take the bait.
2. If they don’t use a real email address they will rip you off. What’s a real address? One that includes their name and the company’s url. Not just any company, the one they claim to work for and is on the email signature. If they use Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, Live or another free email service they are a scam. If they don’t even have a signature, they are a scam.
3. They checked out your site and noticed you aren’t doing well in the search engines. This statement is a guarantee they are a scam and will steal your money. Nobody spends their day trolling the net for websites to perform in-depth keyword and ranking analysis on. Especially on spec. It also doesn’t even make sense since they have no idea what terms you’re trying to rank for or what your conversion rates are. Bottom line, everyone in the world with a website and an email address gets the same exact email. You are no different. If you want to learn more see my SEO Scams and How to Avoid Them article.
SEO Marketing Spam Hall of Shame Inductees
#1 – Rosalie at onlinemarketings.org
There’s bullshit and then there’s BULLSHIT. This is a fine example of the latter. Search for drink canna cola and it’s number one. Search for any variation of the product keywords and it’s top ten if not number one. Of course, Rosalie never visited the website anyway, at bot harvested the email and then sent out this stock “you’re not ranking” spam. Of course they also tout “proprietary techniques” which is a big ole’ red flag.
Hi,
Hope you are well. I was surfing through your website “www.drinkcannacola.com” and after saw your website is not on top rankings for most of your keywords pertaining to your domain so I was wondering if you would be interested in getting Search engine optimization done for your website.
Ethical SEO leads Better Traffic leading to higher Sales.
We follow all ethical and proprietary techniques to get your website on top.
Let me know if you would like then we mail you more details or schedule a call. We’ll be pleased to serve you.
I look forward to your feedback
Kind Regards
Rosalie
Marketing Manager
rosalie@onlinemarketings.org
#2 – Rudy at www.seoimprove.net
Sure, Rudy has so much time on his hands he thought he’d spend the day researching my website. How nice of him!
My name is Rudy and after examining your website, I believe I can help you improve your Search Engine Rankings.
Do you wish you could increase your online leads? Getting much more traffic from search engines?
It is much easier and more cost-effective than you might think. We have helped a lot of businesses thrive in this market and we can help you!
If you are interested in outranking your competition please visit http://www.seoimprove.net or mail me at rudy@seoimprove.net
#3 – Quintin Smith
Fill out my online form with your huckstering and it’s a one way ticket to the SEO Spam Hall of Shame “Quintin Smith”.
Name: Quintin Smith
Email: qsmith@whitelabelseo.com
Phone: 888-511-4020
Best Time to Contact:
Morning: on
Afternoon: on
Project Description: na
How did you find me?:
Referal: on
Search-Engine: on
Article-Review: on
Other: na
#4 – “Dear Info”
Dear “info”? No need to be so formal! I also love the fact that they use the “most sophisticated programming know-how” to redesign your website. Run, don’t walk away from this company.
Dear info,
Does your Website deliver you enough customers, revenue and brand recognition? Not yet?
GET FREE PROFESSIONAL AUDIT OF YOUR WEBSITE NOW!!!
Our experts will analyze your site FOR FREE and outline the issues, which need to be resolved to attract more search engine and other potential customer traffic and turn your site into a revenue-generating machine you’ve always wanted.
To order the FREE expert audit of your website call now toll-free: 888-528-4114, ext. 1. There’s no obligation to buy or order anything and you will get our FREE professional report in 5-7 business days.
In addition, starting as low as $25 per hour our specialists can:
* Redesign your website using the most sophisticated programming know-how; * Set up and administer your servers and e-commerce applications; * Optimize your site for maximum traffic, and service your entire Internet advertising and marketing needs.
Call toll-free 888-528-4114 ext. 2 for your no-obligation FREE consultation. There’s no job too small or too big!
References and a sampling of world-class Internet properties created and managed by our team are available upon request.
#5 – Melodie Johnson
Don’t fill out my contact form with sales pitches “Melodie”. How tacky!
Melodie Johnson wrote: SEO Services
We would like to get your website on first page of Google.
All of our processes use the most ethical “white hat” Search Engine Optimization techniques that will not get your website banned or penalized. Please reply and I would be happy to send you a proposal. melodiejohnson4325@gmail.com
#6 – Felicia Sams
They just can’t stop filling out my contact form.
Felicia Sams wrote: We are interested to increase traffic to your website, please get back to us in order to discuss the possibility in further detail. traffic.internet.marketing@gmail.com
#7 – Joseph Swanson
What is it with my contact form and SEO spammers. It’s like their crack or something. “Joseph” needs an intervention.
Name: Joseph Swanson
Email: josephswansonaa@gmail.com
Phone:
Best Time to Contact:
Morning:
Afternoon:
Project Description: We would like to get your website on first page of Google.
All of our processes use the most ethical “white hat” Search Engine Optimization techniques that will not get your website banned or penalized.
Please reply and I would be happy to send you a proposal.
How did you find me?:
Referal:
Search-Engine: on
Article-Review:
Other:
#8 -Melodie Merle
More contact form spam. Nothing like a fake phone number to instill confidence! Good job “Melodie”!
Name: Melodie Merle
Email: melodiemerle52@gmail.com
Phone: 000-000-0000
Best Time to Contact:
Morning:
Afternoon:
Project Description: Get leads and sales from your website
We would like to get your website on first page of Google.
All of our processes use the most ethical “white hat” Search Engine Optimization techniques that will not get your website banned or penalized.
Please reply and I would be happy to send you a proposal.
How did you find me?:
Referal:
Search-Engine:
Article-Review:
Other:
#9 – “Top-Power-Results-Etc”
So many email aliases, so little time. These guys are just shameless! I get these nearly every day.
Subject: Your Website is Not #1 in The Search Engines? Get a Free Website Optimization Report!
From: siteresults@power-results.net , webrankings1@topresultsnow.net, resultsnow@power-results.net, websiteresults@power-results.net , results@top-webresults1.com, webpros@power-results.net, ad infinitum ad nauseum.
No Cost Website Analysis and Ranking Report of Your Website! Is Your Website Ranked at Number One in The Search Engines?
When your website is ranked highly in all of the major search engines, this is the most important key to your company’s success. Your business goes from being unseen, or ranked very low to a very high ranking, making you sales 24/7.
At no cost to you, our search engine optimization experts will run a ranking report showing you exactly where your website currently stands in all the major search engines. Then we will email you our analysis report along with the recommendations of how we can increase your ranking, and improve your websites traffic dramatically!
Please Click Here For a No Cost Website Search Engine Optimization Analysis, & Ranking Report of Your Website. Our Service is For USA and Canada Websites Only
If you click on the link it launches your email client and prefills it with an email address that just screams "do not trust us!"
#10 -“SEO Company”
Suuuure. They are at the top of Google for “SEO Company” yet don’t provide their URL in the email and send these from an endless parade of junk email address. Yeah, right.
Subject: Idea for (whatever domain they are spamming at the moment)
From: rivera500@care2.com, renaudvandenberg57k@mi.terra.cl, ad infinitum ad nauseum.
Dear Business Owner,
75% of WEB SURFERS searching the net will never find your web site unless you’re located on the first page of Yahoo, Google and MSN. If I assist you to obtain as much as 4 times more WEB traffic to your website by promoting you to the top of the search engines would you be interested?
Our company is on the first page when you search on Google for our main search phrase “SEO Company.” We would like to do the same for your Company’s website so you can come up for your primary keywords as well? All of our techniques use the most ethical Search Engine Optimization processes that will not get your web business penalized or banned.
This special SEO program includes: 1. No setup fees 2. No long term contracts 3. Guaranteed increase in traffic
Simply reply to my email message and I would be delighted to provide you a custom proposal.
Sincerely sherlyn choopra
2510 LAS POSAS RD, STE G CAMARILLO, CA 93010 – USA
#11 – Ravi Mahune
Funny, Ravi seemed to have no problem finding my site now did he? This is one of the scummiest scare tactics out there. I can’t tell if his “We are based in India” quote at the bottom is supposed to be a warning or an enticement. Cool Gmail account too. Loser!
Hello and Good Day!
I am Ravi Mahune, Marketing Manager,
I was surfing through your website and realized that despite having a good design; it was not ranking on any of the search engines for most of the keywords pertaining to your domain.
I was wondering if you would be interested in getting the SEO done for your website.
There is a simple equation that is applicable to the online world.
Ethical SEO -> Better Traffic -> Higher Sales
We are an ISO Certified, SEMPO registered Online marketing firm and have over 6 years of working experience. All the techniques used are ethical and proprietary.
In case you require any additional information, it shall be our pleasure to furnish the same.
I look forward to your mail.
Yours sincerely,
Ravi Mahune
Marketing Manager
Email: mahune.seomanager@gmail.com
“We are based in India”
#12 – EBillboards
Ebillboards wants to sell me useless advertising for their scum malware browser plugin. This scam has been going around for a long time under various product names. The concept is you pay an outrageous fee to “own” a keyword. When someone searches for this keyword in Google their browser plugin (ie: malware/spyware) loads your website in an iFrame at the top. Besides being exceptionally tacky, the main problem is NOBODY has the plugin installed. Anyone who did would immediately have it uninstalled. Pure garbage.
Let us introduce you to our unique technology, which can place a Billboard of YOUR WEBSITE on top of all Major Search Engines, above all your competitors!
Find out exactly what your website will look like with one of our unique Top Placement Ads.
You can see our Online Demo in 3 easy steps:
1. Go to our Ads on Top Demo page 2. Enter your URL where indicated 3. Enter your keyword – and click View Online Demo.
You get:
– Top Placement for 1 year – Exclusive Keyword registration – No Pay Per Click fees – Highest possible visibility – Keyword-Targeted Visitors to your website
(Reach consumers the exact second they search your keywords)
How much traffic can we bring YOUR site?
Request a Quote today and get a traffic estimate for your desired keywords.
For more information, contact us at (866) 951-3331 and one of our representatives will kindly guide you through the details of out technology and terms.
We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Bob Miller, MBA Sr. Account Manager Ads on Top eBillboards
866-951-3331 ph 323-446-2576 fx
p.s. – watch our keywords technology introduction to get a better idea of how it all works.
This is what it would look like if I bought the keyword "cheese" for my Claytowne.com site and someone was using their crappy plugin. If you saw this your first response would to figure out how someone messed with your Google page and how do you fix it.
#13 – Word Ape
No URL, no personal information, and a ridiculous claim of number one positions. Run, don’t walk away from this company.
Want to be #1 on Google and Yahoo search engines?
Do you want your website to sell for you?
Don’t leave your website sales to chance, we can get you to the top of search engines!
THIS IS NOT A PAY-PER-CLICK campaign. Our goal is to always get you ranking high for competitive, heavy traffic keywords. We know what works!
Click here to get an information packet and see how we can do it.
Contact us with any questions you may have.
Word Ape – (888) 838-5429
When you click on the "click here" link it prefills out an email with a throw away email address.
#14 – Sandra Sheridan
No thanks. I don’t want my business to”explode”. Sandra has two throw away email addresses. Impressive!
Subject: Placement List Offer
From: sandrasherintuu@postaweb.com and sandrasheri@cotas.net
Your online business could explode simply by having your web site appear higher on the search directories. We would like to show you how with a free site review. Reply to us today and we will do a no cost site assessment so that you can see for yourself what your online business could produce. Please include in your response the best way to contact you.
Sincerely,
Sandra Sheridan
#15 Anuranjan
Yep, he works for a leading web services company in India but has a throw away Gmail account, no contact info, no URL and apparently no last name.
Subject: Performance Basis Link Building Service
From: anuranjan.webservices@gmail.com
Dear Sir Madam,
We are a Delhi-NCR, India based, and leading web services company with main competency in link building, working as an outsourced vendor for many reputed SEO agency based in USA, UK, Canada and Australia.
We have a dedicated team of 120 professionals to serve you. We build the natural quality and theme based links as one-way or reciprocals links with our manual process.
We always adopt the ETHICAL LINK building process/White hat technique; also follow the guidelines of Google and major search engine for SEO result.
We strictly work on performance basis and can assure you of getting quality links for your site as well. Our links building service will help to increase the link popularity of your website.
We follow a Agency Client Oriented Approach in our process, as sign-up the NDAs( Non-Disclosure Agreement), effective online project management tracking tools, timely and smooth communication etc.
We are looking forward starting a long and healthy business relationship with you.
We will be happy to AMAZE you with our work. I will really appreciate you please let me know your link building requirement.
Kind Regards,
Anuranjan
#16 Sourabh
Now obviously this is the same scam outfit as #15. They mixed it up a little but the format is the same. If you have a domain and an accessible email you will get these for the rest of your life. One day, curiosity may get the best of you. If this should happen, step away form the computer and say to yourself, “It was bullshit last month, it was bullshit last week, and it’s still bullshit today”. Repeat until the temptation passes.
Subject: Link Building Services With Affordable Price
From: worldno1animation.service@gmail.com
Dear Sir/Madam, We are an Indian online marketing firm specializing in Search Engine Marketing projects (Google PPC campaigns and SEO), Reciprocal and One Way Link Exchange Campaign in various categories. We have a dedicated team of 20 professionals to serve you. Our Link Builders specialize in getting theme based targeted links for Client’s website. We provide you with Reciprocal and One way link building with the following essential parameters: – 1. We ensure that the page where the webmaster has added our link is indexed by Google/Yahoo depending upon the client’s requirement. 2. We ensure the committed number of links on that particular link page. 3. We ensure that it should not be a ‘ffa’ (free for all) site. 4. We ensure that the sites must be related to the theme of the campaign we are working for. 5. We ensure the webmaster uses the proper anchor text/description provided to him to place our link at his site. 6. We ensure that no webmaster receives a repeated Link Request Mail for the same campaign.
We can assure you of getting quality links for your site. Most firms overseas have achieved a significant amount of savings by outsourcing either complete or part of their work to us in India. We wish you the best of luck and looking forward to a long and healthy business relationship with you and your company.
We are anxiously waiting for your positive response.
Kind Regards! Sourabh
#17 Mary Stubbins
Dear Info? That’s “Mr. Dear Info” to you Mary!
Dear Info
With your permission, we would like to show you how to get better positioning on the web. If you are interested, reply us today for a free web-site assessment.
Sincerely,
Mary Stubbins Front Line Marketing
#18 Rebecca Dunne
Another “have your website above Google results” malware browser plugin scam but this time from a reseller of the original scam. Lucky me! Gotta love the “RANK” phone number. And how about that subject line? That’s what you get for letting a “bot” do the work a human should be doing.
Subject: Comic books (3/10/2010)
Sender: reb@ng-systems.net
Hello,
Our company is an authorized reseller for an exclusive advertising opportunity, reaching a growing Network of nearly 36 million consumers, 94% of which are US based. This Network is entirely opt-in, and we’re able to present our users with a preferred choice whenever they are looking for anything on the major search engines.
I seek one reputable source to recommend to the users on our Network for various types of comic books.
Please contact me at your earliest convenience. I am in the office daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific time.
Yours truly,
Rebecca Dunne Director of Business Development, DP Services
Phone: 877-RANK-1ST (877-726-5178), ext 2010
#19 Pina Easter
Another “your site is not doing well in the search engines”. Apparently I’m supposed to gloss over the irony that my site can’t be found yet still they found me. Pina has two throw away email addresses and no contact info or company affiliation so you knows she’s super awesome.
Subject: Site Traffic- Review*
Sender: pinaeastapyd@postaweb.com and pinaeast@cotas.net
We like your site, but we noticed that you are missing out on key web traffic due to where you show up on the search engines. If you will allow us – we would like to give you a no charge site analysis to show you how you could generate a lot more web traffic. It’s free and could greatly enhance your online business. Reply to us today for your free review.
Sincerely,
Pina Easter
#20 Marc Schneider, Ph.D. from Multilingual Search Engine Optimization Inc.
I’ve been subject to Marc’s scare tactics for at least a couple of years now and I’ve just had it with him. Apparently he’s once again “noticed” that one of my sites is not on foreign search engines. What a nice concerned man he is! Trouble is this one’s for my fatherhood blog. It’s written in English, and it makes no money and never will. It’s a personal blog and if he’d actually visited it instead of having his bots harvest my email and then automatically send a generic email he would have known that. But he doesn’t because he’s a scam artists and chronic spammer.
Here’s the orginal email:
I am Dr. Marc Schneider and I work for Multilingual Search Engine Optimization Inc. in Washington DC ( Tel: 1-202-558-2504) – I would like to speak with the person in charge of your international clientele. Who is my contact? Who should I speak to??
In fact, after visiting http://www.straightdopedad.com , I have noticed that your website cannot be found on foreign search engines (I tested it on Hispanic search engines, German search engines, Asian search engines, etc.) Our company is specialized in multilingual search engine promotions in 28 languages . From the Japanese Google to the German Yahoo, from the AOL in Spanish to the MSN in Chinese, we can show you how to develop a true international online presence by promoting your website on foreign search engines.
Let us show you how to develop a presence on the multilingual web without having to translate your website: It is not necessary to translate your website in order to submit to foreign search engines, however, you need to have at least 1 page in Japanese optimized with Japanese keywords and meta tags in order to submit to Japanese search engines, at least 1 page in Spanish optimized with Spanish keywords in order to submit to Hispanic search engines and so on…
I strongly suggest that you watch our online presentation which will explains clearly how to get top rankings on foreign search engines with only 1 entry page per language (click on the following link or copy-paste it into your web browser): http://www.mplw.net/demo
From the Japanese Google to the German Yahoo, from the AOL in Spanish to the MSN in Chinese, get users to find your website when searching with YOUR KEYWORDS in their Native language.
Please call me at +1 (202) 558-2504 or email me and let’s work on giving your website the true international exposure which it deserves to have with foreign native online users!!
Regards,
Marc Schneider, Ph.D. Marcs@mplw.net
Multilingual Search Engine Optimization Inc. 1250 Connecticut Ave N.W. Suite 200 Washington, DC 20036 USA TEL: +1 (202) 558-2504 – FAX: 1 (202)-318-2453 http://www.mplw.net Multilingual Search Engine Promotion Services since 1999.
Phone: 877-RANK-1ST (877-726-5178), ext 2010
So what’s the scam here? Well when you do a search for one of my key phrases like “fatherhood blog” on say Google Japan, I’m already in the number one position. Huh? I though he said I wasn’t found on foreign search engines and on Google Japan specifically?
Ah you say, read the fine print, he said he can help you rank when users are “searching with YOUR KEYWORDS in their Native language”, and “fatherhood blog” is not in Japanese! True, but why would someone who writes a personal blog in English pay someone to translate a landing page into Japanese so he can rank for the Japanese equivalent of the phrase “fatherhood blog”? So people can click on it only to be pissed off that the rest of the website is in English and completely useless to them? It makes as much sense as a store having a sign in the window that says “Se Habla Español” and when you go in you find out the only Spanish phrase the owner knows is “Se Habla Español“.
These guys are spammers, they never look at any of the websites they target, they use scare tactics to drum up business, and their services make no sense. Shame on them.
But Wait…There’s More.
Hot off the presses is his partner in crime Martin Vermont who also has a Ph.D. ( in scamology I assume) The best part is I get two of these and the second one has a little “maybe it got caught in spam filters” note which is hilarious line for a spammer and scam artist to use.
Did you receive the e-mail which we sent to you recently (copied here-below)?
Please confirm since I have had problems lately with emails intercepted by spam-filters set too high.
Cordially,
Martin Vermont, Ph.D.
martinvermont@mplw.net
I am Dr. Martin Vermont and I work for Multilingual Search Engine Optimization Inc. in Washington DC (Tel: 1-202-558-2504) – I would like to speak with the person in charge of your international clientele. Who is my contact? Who should I speak to??
In fact, after visiting http://39a48274f3.nxcli.io , I have noticed that your website cannot be found on foreign search engines (I tested it on Hispanic search engines, German search engines, Asian search engines, etc.) Our company is specialized in multilingual search engine promotions in 28 languages . From the Japanese Google to the German Yahoo, from the AOL in Spanish to the MSN in Chinese, we can show you how to develop a true international online presence by promoting your website on foreign search engines.
Let us show you how to develop a presence on the multilingual web without having to translate your website: It is not necessary to translate your website in order to submit to foreign search engines, however, you need to have at least 1 page in Japanese optimized with Japanese keywords and meta tags in order to submit to Japanese search engines, at least 1 page in Spanish optimized with Spanish keywords in order to submit to Hispanic search engines and so on…
I strongly suggest that you watch our online presentation which explains clearly how to get top rankings on foreign search engines with only 1 entry page per language (click on the following link or copy-paste it into your web browser): http://www.mplw.net/demo
From the Japanese Google to the German Yahoo, from the AOL in Spanish to the MSN in Chinese, get users to find your website when searching with YOUR KEYWORDS in their Native language.
Please call me at +1 (202) 558-2504 or email me and let’s work on giving your website the true international exposure which it deserves to have with foreign native online users!!
Regards,
Martin Vermont, Ph.D.
martinvermont@mplw.net
Multilingual Search Engine Optimization Inc.
1250 Connecticut Ave N.W. Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036 USA
TEL: +1 (202) 558-2504 – FAX: 1 (202)-318-4779
http://www.mplw.net
Multilingual Search Engine Promotion Services since 1999.
#21 Liz Montaroso at SPS Solutions
Great subject line Liz! Another variation on the Star Position/NetGuard web browser malware scam.
Subject: Financial advisors (3/24/2010)
Hello,
I represent a company called SPS Solutions, a company that does what’s known as advanced search engine placement. We reach a Network of nearly 36,000,000 people who are largely US based. Our Network is entirely opt-in, and the users on our Network allow us to present them with a preferred choice whenever they are looking for anything on the major search engines. (GOOGLE, YAHOO, BING and thirteen others)
I seek one source to send the users on our Network, from the major search engines, for financial advisors in San Francisco and surrounding markets.
Please contact me at your earliest convenience. I am in the office daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific time.
Best regards,
Liz Montaroso Business Segment Analyst, SPS Solutions Phone: 800-481-2979, ext 2002
#22 Marissa Holden
This one has so many red flags it’s hard to know where to start. Guaranteeing first place positions without even understanding your goals. No address, company name, or URL. They can increase my sales 400% yet have no idea what my current sales are. Plus they use secret proprietary techniques (yeah right) but will still cost less than half of anyone else. Awesome!
Marissa Holden wrote: Get Your Website on the 1st Page of Google, Yahoo and MSN Hi Website Administrator,
We are purely organic search SEO Firm; we can get your website on the 1st page of Google, Yahoo and MSN (Bing.com). We can increase your sales at least 4 times. We do not use “link farms” or “black hat” methods that Google and the other search engines frown upon and can use to de-list or ban your site. The techniques are proprietary, involving some valuable closely held trade secrets.
Our prices are less than half of what other companies charge. We can fairly quickly promote your website to the top of the search rankings with no long term contracts! We are working on Guarantee basis.
We would be happy to send you a proposal using the top search phrases for your area of expertise. Please contact me at your convenience so we can start saving you some money.
Phone: 800-481-2979, ext 2002
#23 The Site Rankings Experts Team
Killer throw away email address and the tried and true, nonsensical, impossible to know, scare tactic “you’re not #1 in the search engines”.
Subject: Your Site is Not #1 in the Search Engines. Get a No Cost Analysis Report Today.
Sender: webtraffic@paladium.biz
Hi,
Your website is not ranked #1 in the search engines. If you want to increase the number of visitors to your website it is important that you have a top search engine position.
At no cost to you, our search engine optimization experts will run a ranking report showing you exactly where your website currently stands in all the major search engines. Then we will email you our analysis report along with the recommendations of how we can increase your ranking, and improve your websites traffic dramatically!
Please Go Here For Your No Cost Analysis and Ranking Report of Your Website!
The Site Rankings Experts Team
Phone: 800-481-2979, ext 2002
#24 Domain Recognition Division
There are scam artists and then there is this company.They will submit your site to Google and charge you $25 per day to do it even though there is no benefit to submitting to Google, resubmitting is useless, and Google finds your site just fine through inbound links. Makes about as much sense as paying for a service that tells the mailman where your house is.
The second part of this scam is the intentional misleading on the keywords concept. There is NO such thing as submitting your website to Google under certain keywords. It simply doesn’t exist. These folks are the scummiest of the scum and I hope they all get hit by a bus. If you clicked on any of the hyperlinks in the email they all launch this (gotta love the BCC to mortgagenotice@gmail):
Subject: Need Exposure? Put Your Website on 1000+ Search Engines
Sender: noreplyExpose@ymail.com
Dear Website Owner,
How would you like your website to be included in search results? We can get over 1,000 search engines to start “indexing” your website for keywords and page ranking. This means that you will receive targeted traffic to your website based on the keywords you desire.
There are no PAY-PER-CLICK’s or paying for specific keywords.
What we do is simple and effective.
#1: Evaluate your website for proper keyword placement (FREE with service). #2: Submit Your Website to over 1,000 search engines within minutes. #3: Google, Yahoo and many more search engines will start to visit your website daily.
We recommend submitting your website everyday for 30 days straight for solid keyword results.
The price is a flat rate of $25 per day and includes Evaluation, Submission and Unlimited Keywords. There are no hidden fees or costs.
Please call 1 (888) 570-7776 ext 420 for complete details.
GET MORE INFO VIA E-MAIL HERE!
Domain Recognition Division 1 (888) 570-7776 Ext 420 Owned and Operated in the USA
#25 Robert Angrita @ bussinesdata.com
Another scumbag using the old “you’re not ranking well on search engines” scare tactic. As I’ve said before don’t ever hire a company that sends you SEO emails and especially one that uses fear and deceit to drum up business.
Subject: Seo Services
Hi,
I am Robert, Business Development Manager
I was surfing through your website and realized that despite having a good design; it was not ranking well on the search engines for most of the keywords pertaining to your domain.
I was wondering if you would be interested in getting the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) done for your website.
There is a simple equation that is applicable to the online world.
Ethical SEO -> Better Traffic -> Higher Sales.
We are a CMMI Level 3, Microsoft Gold Certified partner Online Marketing firm and have over 10 years of working experience with a large and satisfied customer base . All the techniques used are ethical and proprietary.
In case you require any additional information, it shall be our pleasure to furnish the same.
I look forward to your mail.
Yours sincerely, Robert Angrita Business Development Manager ID: info@bussinesdata.com
PS: “Buying a website without search engine optimization is like spending your entire budget on a commercial without buying any air time to show it to the world”
#26 – Kamlakshi Kalia @ Innomax Team or Business-innovations.net
This one’s unusual in the sense that they cite several “problems” with my website that are demonstrably false and are clearly not subjective. No Google maps listing? Really, I guess they didn’t check here. My website doesn’t validate? Interesting, I guess they don’t know about the W3C validation checker. What a scumbag.
Hi there,
We analyzed http://39a48274f3.nxcli.io for Ranking and Traffic Results and found it to be ranked in lower positions on major keywords with decreased the traffic volume too.
Few other issues we figured out are mentioned below
1. Very Few Google Indexed one way links
2. Google Local Map listings Missing
3. W3C Validation of HTML Needed
4. Article/News Section Needs to be Populated in better optimized manner
So Rank your website in the Top Google Yahoo and Bing Search Result when visitors look for your products.
Make http://39a48274f3.nxcli.io a BIG BRAND ON THE INTERNET in all major classifieds, directories, portals, forums, blogs, etc.
Lift the KEYWORDS RANKING TO TOP GOOGLE PAGE for http://39a48274f3.nxcli.io
INCREASE TRAFFIC BY 50% IN JUST 2-3 MONTHS
Activities Involved in the Process will include following. Once you confirm us, I will send you the Package Options with these activities in various quantities
1. Meta Tags Optimization
2. HTML Tags Optimization
3. XML Site Map Creation
4. Anchor Tags Optimization
5. W3C HTML Validation
6. One way link building (PR2+)
7. Article Writing and Submissions
8. Blogs Postings and Commenting
9. Forums Posting and Participation
10. Press Release Distribution
11. Business Directories Submissions
12. Local Google Map Listings
13. Local and Global Classifieds Submissions
14. Social Bookmarking
15. Videos Creation and Submissions
Do revert back for all further queries and concerns.
I am also on Skype, MSN, Yahoo and Gtalk, so let me know Your User Name/ID and I will add you to talk further
Waiting for your early reply
Kind Regards,
Kamlakshi Kalia
Innomax Team
#27 – nathankyle456@gmail.com and Their Amazing Form Filling Robot
We have a new entry. Their robot filled in every text box with the same info, save the email, which actually has an email address. How novel! The best part is that every field contains the sentence “We will put in writing that everything we do adheres to all ethical Search Engine Optimization guidelines.” Unlike Alanis Morissette, I actually understand the definition of ironic, and this fits it nicely.
Your BlueMail form has been completed, following are the results:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| subject | ER Racks USA – Contact Form |
| First | Let us do the tedious SEO work for you. You know your business, we know SEO. Our rates are some of the most competitive in the industry. We will put in writing that everything we do adheres to all ethical Search Engine Optimization guidelines. At a minimum you owe it to yourself and your business to reply to this email so I can send you more information. |
| Last | Let us do the tedious SEO work for you. You know your business, we know SEO. Our rates are some of the most competitive in the industry. We will put in writing that everything we do adheres to all ethical Search Engine Optimization guidelines. At a minimum you owe it to yourself and your business to reply to this email so I can send you more information. |
| mailfrom | nathankyle456@gmail.com |
| Phone | Let us do the tedious SEO work for you. You know your business, we know SEO. Our rates are some of the most competitive in the industry. We will put in writing that everything we do adheres to all ethical Search Engine Optimization guidelines. At a minimum you owe it to yourself and your business to reply to this email so I can send you more information. |
| Comments | Let us do the tedious SEO work for you. You know your business, we know SEO. Our rates are some of the most competitive in the industry. We will put in writing that everything we do adheres to all ethical Search Engine Optimization guidelines. At a minimum you owe it to yourself and your business to reply to this email so I can send you more information. |
#28 – Sandy Victor
The nerve. Filling out my online form to pitch me this bogus threat. They didn’t notice anything, as they never actually visited my site – their bot did and filled out my form. Gotta love the crap gmail address and the complete lack of identifying information. Is it just me, or is misspelling the word “writing” in “copy writing” not the most righteously ironic thing ever?
Project Description:
SEO – Link Building – Copy wrighting – Web Designing – PHP
In order for us to respond to your request for information, please include your company’s website address (mandatory) and or phone number.
Marketing suggestion for your website
We noticed that you are not at the top of the search engines for a number of your key terms. We have helped companies similar to yours to achieve top organic rankings. Please reply to this message and we will prepare a special proposal for you, to show you how we can achieve similar results for you.
Sincerely,
sandy victor
Email: sandyvictor10@gmail.com
Phone: 9873469501
#29 – Robert Angrita @ iBrandsuccess
Well Robert presents himself as professional but it’s the same “you’re not ranking well in the search engines” scam. Check out where his URL’s go. Wow, really impressive huh. Stay away from this scumbag.
Killer website dude!
Hmmm, I guess in their over 10 years of working experience on online marketing projects, there just wasn't enough time to figure out how to get their own websites up.
Check out their unsubscribe page. They make YOU fill in your own email PLUS your website. What a scam. All unsubscribe pages should be a simple "than you" as they already know your email. Oh wait, that's assuming they aren't criminals. Sorry, my mistake.
#30 – Jason Carter at www.linkspanther.com
This is rich. Apparently my fatherhood blog, where I write about raising my seven year old daughter, doesn’t rank well for the keyphrase “parenting 9 year old boys”. I know, shocking isn’t it! Worth a full read for its absurdity as he tries to sell me on the idea of optimizing for this term. Fuck you Jason!
Good morning, my name is Jason Carter and I am a Internet marketing professional. I had done a Google search under the keyword parenting 9 year old boys and had run across your website www.straightdopedad.com. I see that you are not listed on the first page of Google for your particular search.
I am not sure if you’re aware of why you’re ranked this low but more importantly how easily correctable this is.
There’s no reason that you can’t have top three rankings for the keyword parenting 9 year old boys based on your website structure and content. You have a very nice site.
What you need is high quality one-way anchor text links. I can help you with this…..
Not only can I get you ranked for the keyword parenting 9 year old boys but I am talking about all of your keywords on top of Google. Adding new high quality PR anchor-text links from the highest quality websites will produce the results and business you want for www.straightdopedad.com.
The right kind of links are crucial in getting top ranking… and I can hand deliver these quality links to you.
My partners and I own 1000’s of websites and offer private linking to hundreds of website owners just like yourself.
I didn’t send this email out to very many people but I do favor your website because I can see your website monetizing the targeted website traffic for the keyword parenting 9 year old boys can deliver.
I have your contact information and phone number. Would it be okay if I were to give you a call?
I have a very simple way to prove to you that what I do works risk free for you to try. Nothing beats seeing the results with your own eyes.
Would it be okay if I were to give you a call? I would love to pursue this further over the phone with you or should I go somewhere else?.
Sincerely,
Jason Carter
(480) 445-9297
www.linkspanther.com
P.S.- if the tables were turned and somebody I didn’t know came to me with a proposition, even one that was appealing, I would be hesitant because I would be wondering – what’s the catch? What does this guy know that I don’t.
But then again I would think he does know something that I don’t know. He owns 1000’s of websites, he does have hundreds of thousands of pages indexed with top rankings on Google, Yahoo and Bing. Websites that can deliver only the highest quality anchor-text links that can move your rankings fast. I would also think that I need to get my website in the top rankings. And he is offering turn key page 1 rankings on all of my keywords including parenting 9 year old boys. Keywords that produce the kind of traffic potentially worth tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of dollars.
I emailed you this because it’s a win-win for both of us. Think of it this way, who wouldn’t be interested in buying money at a discount? Because that’s what I’ll be able to offer you….discount money.
Would it be okay to give you a call? Or you can call me anytime at the number above and would be happy to explain how I can benefit you risk free.
#31 – Julie-Anne Sadler Senior Internet Marketing Consultant at Natural Positions
Really? Your automated bots discovered that I don’t rank well for a list of randomly chosen keywords scraped from blog. No shit Sherlock! Buy packing peanuts? Fun office supplies? It’s a parenting blog you SEO scumbag. And by the way, I rank #1 for “fatherhood blog” which is one of the keywords I was actually targeting. And for your information “The Straight Dope” is an awesome debunking column written by Cecil Adams. I’m “Straight Dope Dad”. Big difference. Oh, and I’m actually #10 on Google for “The Straight Dope” and #7 for “Straight Dope” – which you would had known if you actually checked it yourself. Which translates into “page one” in case you have trouble counting by tens.
| Search Position | Keyword | Daily Search |
| 14 | straight dope | 220 |
| 17 | the straight dope | 96 |
| 11 | straightdope | 53 |
| 50 | fun office supplies | 29 |
| 41 | buy packing peanuts | 19 |
| 28 | dad blog | 13 |
| 29 | biodegradable packing peanuts | 10 |
*Note: Position 35 translates to the 4th page of Google, 5th listing down.
Hello Clay,
I’m a Senior Internet Marketing Consultant with National Positions, a worldwide leader in Internet Marketing services.
I’ve included the rankings above to show you where your website ranks on Google for the best searches associated with your business. As you can see, you are not ranking on page 1!
I’m sure you get a lot of emails about Search Engine Optimization so I will be brief. We work with some of the largest companies in America and typically what we find is that they are not able to create one-way inbound links for their website at a high enough level of production to outperform their competitors on the first page of Google and Bing.
Most companies have an in-house SEO team that manages their onsite optimization and content development, but very few have a linking strategy that creates thousands of quality one-way inbound links to their website each month. This is the essential piece of a strong, enduring Internet marketing strategy.
In order to maximize your business, you need to get to the top 4 positions of page 1 in the organic listings (in Google’s “Golden Triangle”).
- Why the Golden Triangle Matters
There are many Internet marketing companies out there so I imagine you haven’t heard of National Positions. Our company was founded in Los Angeles in 2005 by our CEO, Bernard May. Now we have over 500 employees and over 1,500 clients worldwide. Many of our clients have top rankings on Google’s organic listings for extremely competitive keywords such as “Eye Shadow”, “Life Insurance Quotes”, “ATM”, “Discount Clothing”, “Wholesale Clothing”, “CRM Software”, “Trading Software”, “Debt Consolidation”, “Appliance Repair”, “Answering Service”, “Bathroom Vanities”, “School Supplies”, “Scrubs”, “Voice Over Talent”, “Pizza Franchise”, and “Auto Franchise”.
Our services are offered with no start-up fees and we work on a month-to-month basis. We have a 95% retention rate with all clients.
Just a final note: You may not be aware that National Positions has been recognized for a third year in a row by Inc. 500 as one of the fastest growing private US Company. I would like to discuss how our services can provide the missing piece of your Internet marketing strategy. Please email me if you have any questions or ideas regarding your Internet marketing campaign.
Best Wishes,
Julie-Ann Sadler
Senior Internet Marketing Consultant
NationalPositions
Direct Line: (805) 523-1030
Fax: (866) 859-8241
File Under: SEO Emails Are Scams – Identifying Scam SEO Companies – SEO Marketing Scams
Pulkit Vasudha
Hey, thanks for all that info. I got my first SEO spam mail today and wasn’t very sure whether it was legit. Will steer clear of all the junkmail now. Thanks again!
Clay (The Beats Digging Ditches Dude)
You’re welcome.There’s one advantage to having so many domains and email addresses.I get hit with every variety of spam out there multiple times. Makes it super easy to take the “pulse” of the spammers and see their patterns.
russ
I get a lot of that spam also
but I actually found Quintin Smith doing a search for White Label SEO and was just about to send him money. I was goggling the company number because I was not 100% that things were legit? and I came across this article.
I really need a legit service like this can you recommend any as I have a client ready to go
steve firth
My client just got a “josephswansonaa@gmail.com” through the contact form.
Wouldn’t mind so much if he’d bother to check the clients already at number 1 … for a bunch of stuff.
Clay (The Beats Digging Ditches Dude)
I know. I don’t know why it should bother me because they’re all scammers anyway but yes, when I’m already at number one it pisses me off for someone to say otherwise. Even if they are a crook.
malia
I’m a freelance developer and seeing more and more of these mails being sent via my client’s contact forms. I can tell that these are spam immediately, but I’m worried for my clients (who wants to be “ranked #1 on Google, Yahoo, or any other search engine” now!…) I’ve been trying various anti-spam techniques, for example having the user provide a valid answer to a question, but they are still getting through.
Any ideas on good anti-spam techniques?
Clay (The Beats Digging Ditches Dude)
If they are still getting through your captchas then it may be humans doing it and not a bot. There’s a double opt in technique for emails where a confirmation email gets sent to the person who then has to hit a link that approves the email before it will be sent along. May be something like that for forms as well. Mostly I get spam through my form. The reason I keep it is some potential clients like to fill it out even though I provide a local and toll free phone number and my Skype, Yahoo, Google and MSN handles on top. If they use the form instead of the other choices then they must like forms, and I like to please everyone’s communication choices.
malia
Thanks for the idea about the “double opt-in” technique. Didn’t think of applying it to contact form messages. I also suspected that it could be actual humans completing the forms, but can’t think why a spammer would actually waste time like that…
Perma
Haha, number #6 just contacted one of my clients through the contact form on their site (I’m cc’d on all forms). Lulz
Leesha
Thanks so much for this article – it was awesome and priceless. As someone new to the whole internet marketing, I have to say I was tempted to contact this person (#6 listed here) but the one thing that put me off was that their email was a gmail address. I loved the info here – again priceless, and thank you!
Nick
I received a SEO spam email with a completely customized “SEO report” in pdf that broke down elements like title tags, keyword tag (obsolete much?) and number of links and assigned a rating to each element. Completely unsolicited, but I can kinda appreciate the extra mile, even though I disagree with my title tag “rating” of 65%
Thos003
Funny. You actually show up for SPS solutions web marketing! If you are really that good at SEO and showing up in the top of the SERPs then you should at least have some better reputation management!
Although I do like the new angle in “her” email….
“Advanced search engine PLACEMENT”
Placement sounds accurate… But advanced??? If you call adding someone to adwords advanced….
.-= Thos003´s last blog ..Pest Control Company Recieves Military Honor =-.
Clay (The BDD Dude)
Ha. Good one Thos!
steve
This person loves her spam.
Melodie Johnson wrote:
All of our processes use the most ethical “white hat” Search Engine
Optimization techniques that will not get your website banned or penalized.
Please reply and I would be happy to send you a proposal.
Website:
IP:122.163.46.186
Abeon
Felicia Sams :
We are interested to increase traffic to your website, please get back to us in order to discuss the possibility in further detail.rn
^I have recieved a lot of email of this nature. -_-
I would recommend avoiding any “SEO Company” that can’t even afford a domain to, at least, send an receive emails from!
Leonardo Endo
hahaha! They were all so funny already but you made me laugh even more at exposing these guys:)
Now, i wonder if they are able to victimize some folks..
Tom Steenhuysen
I got the same email from Joseph Swanson. I do hope his intervention is soon. :)
CoolestGeek
This Joseph Swanson spammed me too. He asked if I would like him to rank my site #1 for it’s niche – I happen to be an SEO consultant myself and the site he contacted me though ranks #1 for all target keywords.
This guy needs striking out!
Jay
Haha a good laugh first thing in the morning after receiving my latest spam.
If I had a dime for every if/else statment in my client’s sites contact form process code…
It’s a bandaid fix and you have to add one several variations, but I will use conditions in my PHP or ASP to check for ‘internet markeing’ and such in the form’s question/comment field, and if I find it, bounce them directly to Google.
It’s bad enough they waste our time, but are their lives so sad they waste their own away thinking up schemes?
Great thread. Here’s the one the came through a client’s site today – what questions would you be referring to Henry Henry?
Name: Henry Hagan Henry Hagan
Email: haroldellis008@gmail.com
Phone:
Fax:
Questions/Comments: We are Internet Marketing experts who can help you answer these questions, drive mass traffic to your site, and dramatically increase sales.
Clay (The BDD Dude)
Hah! Too funny. I am also an expert who can help you answer these questions: burnt toast in the morning, wool socks, and pogostick injuries.
Manish
They all sucks. I delete 1-5 messages everyday. Infact, mark them as spam and planning to create a spammer’s email list with live email links so other spam crawlers/bots can spam them. They’re all bullshit and shame many of them’re from my country too.
Annoying.
Zan
Thanks for this list! I have got one Email from one of this list, now I know it is a fake :)
Seba
clay you rock, all this “seo experts” suck!
ste
Joe Swanson’s at it again! Just received a very generous email this morning from him. :)
chelle
Hi, I was just searching around to see what came up for my site “seotacklebox.com” and came across this page. We have a legit website, and do not spam. I’m not sure what you are referring to in your post, perhaps it is another group using an SEO tackle box type of name? Either way, we offer SEO tools, offer free guides, and have a double opt in email list that we send weekly SEO tips out to.
If you search for “seo blueprint” in the search engines, you will find our double optin page, and our free guide on the subject.
It would be much appreciated if you would make some distinction in your post at the top, as this reflects poorly on our site and what we are doing. All of our emails go through Aweber, all with our signature and email so you can contact us directly, and all with a clickable link to opt out. Additionally, no one is on our mailing list unless they specifically have signed up.
Finally, we get a lot of compliments on the free information and advice that we send out weekly:
“…and we very much enjoy receiving your helpful SOE tacklebox magazines, Shelley
we’ve learned alot (and are so glad you found us), if you are ever in NZ be sure to pop in for a cuppa or come stay for a while.”
“Thank you so much for this very helpful information. It is very much appreciated. ”
“Just wanted to say that I really enjoy the newsletter and it is
actualy helping me get better results. This is probably the only
newsletter I stay subscribed to.”
We get emails like this weekly. We really are one of the good guys out there, and I would hope you can work with us by clarifying your post, as it does show up in the search engines when you search for “seo tacklebox”, which is our website.
You can also feel free to email me for more information, I’m a real person and will gladly reply to your questions/concerns if you would like to ensure the information you post is accurate.
Thanks!
Clay (The BDD Dude)
Yes, most likely it was someone using your name without authorization and not you who sent the email. However, the dilemma I’m in is there is a spammer using the name SEO Tackle Box and the purpose of this post is to out them. So what I’ve done as a compromise was added a disclaimer to the original post and I’m leaving your comment here as is.
chelle
That works for me, I appreciate your efforts to clean things up in cyberspace!
Vernon Chalmers
Clay,
I have stumbled on your EFFORTS to expose spam and hats off to you.
Thanks for all the pointers and tips.
I recently started a website wherein I aim to post most of the spam I receive via my business website and my email.
Regards,
Vernon Chalmers
http://www.vernonchalmers.com
meno
I’ve just received an email from #27.
this:
Sender: Nelson Neely
Email: nathankyle456@gmail.com
Sender IP: 122.180.150.18.
thanks a lot Clay (The BDD Dude), your article helped me identify the spammer within seconds. I just googled “nathankyle456@gmail.com” and taraa, here i am in your site.
i have my own site and I am doing all the SEO by myself. I love DIY. I always hated the idea of hiring an SEO agent. I have a phrase in mind goes like this: “if they can do it then I can do it too”.
Clay (The BDD Dude)
Then be sure to check out my seo tutorial
Steve @ web marketing works
This is so true. It’s about time someone put a hall of shame together. They’ve plagued my company for years and are a major pain in the ****!
Chris
I actually signed up with a company that sent an unsolicited email. But they did manage to get me on the first page for some of my keywords. I guess I got lucky.
Steve
Re #14, Here’s a new one with the same basic approach…except that http://www.postaweb.com is now “For Sale”!!…..
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011
From: Trisha Chessman
To: ************
Reply-To: Trisha Chessman
Subject: W. Site * Position *
To: **********
Our company can put your web site in the best positions on the major search engines and keep you there as long as you want. It won_t cost you a fortune and it won_t take any time. We are veterans in this market and we can PROVE our results. See for yourself. Reply to us and include the best way to contact you. We will send you a free quote.
Regards,
Trisha Chessman
Sebastian
I got this after three smap attacks from the same you mention in our post:
__________
Did you receive the e-mail which we sent to you recently (copied here-below)?
Please confirm since I have had problems lately with emails intercepted by spam-filters set too high.
Cordially,
Martin Vermont, Ph.D.
martinvermont@mplw.net
Kadri
This Martin Vermont seems to be really popular one. :D
Got “his” mail today (his mailing address is different though):
—–
Did you receive the e-mail which we sent to you recently (copied here-below)?
Please confirm since I have had problems lately with emails intercepted by spam-filters set too high.
Cordially,
Martin Vermont, Ph.D.
martinvermont@languageseo.net
Sam Orchard
We get about 3 of these a day through our contact form. They go straight into the junk.
Corey
Thank You for this info, I have Dr. Martin Vermont, Ph.D.
martinvermont@mplw.net sending me email that my site needs help LOL what a scamer!
Thank You you sould re-release this again!
Georgia
Hey, this was the most entertaining yet informative read I’ve had in a very long time! It got me really laughing with all these sarcastic and true comments. I heard from one of them today, and I’m glad I did my research first. Kudos to you!
David
Thanks for the info here. 2 weeks running I have gotten spam from that Dr. Martin Vermont guy. I knew he was a spammer but to find out he’s a scammer too is so shameful! Thanks for posting the info on these crooks and for the good laugh this morning.
Rahul
I am from India. Dont worry I don’t do SEO. The thing is we are working for a large company and receive many of this scummy mails everyday. So have created a filter and added all those lousy email address there directly going to trash. Was wondering if you could publish that blacklist here or put it in download so people can put this in email filters. Also just so that you would know these spams come from only three or four places and use Bharati Broadband mostly. We are thinking over even taking legal actions but dont have much time for that. You exposing those email address or at least helping creating a safe-list would be a real help.
Scam Alert - Email from Dr. Martin Vermont | GeneaBloggers
[…] Heads up to the latest email being sent to genealogy bloggers which is a scam: […]
Gregory Bryce
Thank you for this informative and funny web page.
Today, I received the supposed offer from Dr. Martin Vermont, who has a **Ph.D.**!
Not recognizing it as a scam – I was impressed that it included a full name, street address, phone number and website, but was a little suspicious of the opening line where he introduces himself, “Dr.” and all – I tried to reply to say I wasn’t interested, noting that Google.de and Google.fr had no trouble finding the German and French pages of my website.
When I clicked on Send, my Yahoo mail account instructed me as follows: “To help fight spam, please type in the characters from the box below.”
When I did and clicked on Send again, I got this message:
“! Your message was not sent
“Suspicious activity was detected on your account. To protect your account and those of our users, your message was not sent. Please follow the guidelines outlined on our help page to resume sending mail.
“If this error continues, please contact Yahoo! Customer Care for further help.
“We apologize for the inconvenience.”
I have never had that experience with spam or Yahoo before, and think the block is probably a good thing.
But if I can’t even send an individual reply to a spammer/scammer, why does Yahoo deliver the scammer’s e-mail in the first place?
Montie.be » Wat is scam?
[…] Scam is oplichting. Op internet komt het op veel manieren voor. Vaak proberen scammers per e-mail mensen op te lichten. Ze sturen een list verpakt in een mooi verhaal, waarbij ze inspelen op de wens van mensen om op een gemakkelijke manier veel geld te verdienen en om snel rijk te worden. Hieronder een e-mail die ik heb ontvangen van een scammer Dit was het ip-adres van de scammer en heb deze eventjes opgezocht: 64.191.12.166 Hier meer over dit soort scams […]
John
I’m really sick and tired of this Martin Vermont guy. His mails definitely go straight to the Spam folder but its annoying.
The mails come from os28.net (which redirects to 28os.com), both of which are registered with Namecheap and the nameservers are set to some company in Lebanon, nadim@sarkis.org
I’ve sent an email to IncoSal net (the hosting provider) but the emails just bounce. Hoping that namecheap could do something about it.
Ross
Hi Clay, quite a comprehensive list you’ve got here… my clients e-mail me now and then after getting these as e-mails or WP spam asking if this is something they should think about.
One tip to avoid these emails would be to NOT use the keywords meta on your site. Google doesn’t pay attention to it, and Bing uses it mainly to quickly identify spammers. All it does is give your competitors your keyword goals and possibly tell these scam artists what your target keywords might be. Not saying they’ll clear up completely with this, but something to consider.
David Topple
Good article we should be naming and shaming more spammers like Glasgow based position1seo.net using the fake name Jason Gamble. Spam emailing the entire UK with rubbish!
Keep up the good work.
David.
scattravels
Very useful post you are shared.
Marlo
I have read a book and says that the term spam is derived from the 1970 Spam sketch of the BBC television comedy series Monty Python’s Flying Circus.The sketch is set in a cafe where nearly every item on the menu includes Spam canned luncheon meat. As the waiter recites the Spam-filled menu, a chorus of Viking patrons drowns out all conversations with a song repeating “Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam… Spammity Spam! Wonderful Spam!”, hence spamming the dialogue.The excessive amount of Spam mentioned references the preponderance of it and other imported canned meat products in the United Kingdom after World War II, as the country struggled to rebuild its agricultural base. Spam captured a large slice of the British market within the lower classes, and became a byword among British children of the 1960s for low-grade fodder due to its commonality, monotonous taste and low price, leading to the humour of the Python sketch.
Shawn
Here is another low-life Spam Artist
——– Forwarded Message ——–
Subject: 1st Page on Google
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2017 11:23:47 +0000
From: David Smith
Hi,
Hope you are doing well,
I was examining your website and not able to find your website on starting pages on Google however I can help you Top page ranking for all search engines Like Google Yahoo and Bing if you can give us permission.
We are the best service provider in Optimization in your area. We also offer the most competitive rates for this service!
Let me know if you are interested and we will send our company details as well as cost for our services.
Thanks & Regards,
David Smith,
Business Development Manager
P.S. Feel free to Schedule a call to discuss your idea.
Scorey
Here are some of the email addresses he has used to SPAM people in the past:
David Smith
David Smith
David Smith
David Smith
David Smith
David Smith
David Smith
David Smith
david smitth
Elsa Hughes
There are scammers everywhere and the SEO sector is not excempted. This is a great list of who to avoid.
Justin Brave
nice
Stanley Lawson
really appreciate the efforts you have put in