Spam Harvesters

I don't know what the other person received that was addressed to me, most of the ones I get are from "foreign nationals" seekinig assistance with their financial affairs from names like "Mutumbo Umbooto" seeking help smuggling their funds across international borders and such. Obviously, I'm the man they are looking for. I've seen these before, they are hillarious.

*smiles* really annoying ...

I get at least 5 of those foreign assistance ones a day, plus the lottery stakes ones. I've also had an increase in those that my virus filter opens first, then cleans and leaves me the readable bit, usually saying something like, 'make money, see attachment' or 'is that you?'

ABC takes a *very* dim view of spam harvesters.. you'd better mail Mark with the evidence RD.

Yes gary, my spams are the same type, I've started getting three or four a day. I stupidly put my 'proper' e-mail address on my profile (I am seriously careful about where I use that one, normally).

Just thought... on my profile is my czech email address, and there are never ever any spams in it.

They have this weird thing where minor roads have priority... but it's not the rule on *all* roads, just some. They don't tell you which (you are expected to know). I spent the summer there and drove as little as possible it was so terrifying.. I'd rather fly in a one engined antique airbus than drive there again!

Wow. Perhaps I'll skirt round that country. Thanks for the advice.

I should point out that my friends thought i was a wuss. Or the czech equivalent.. please dont skirt CZ. It's a beautiful wonderful place, and you'll love it. Have a great time..

Thanks Liana. I've heard great things about CZ as well.

my spam varies from none to four a day. nothing from this site though - mind you - they might be from names I don't recognise but if so some people must have the oddest email addresses and my email is in the open both on profile and in the forum.

You can find all kinds of decent hotel deals through www.hotelscentral.com Just pick the country. Only drawback is there is a penalty for changing plans. Another option, which offers nonbinding reservations, is www.hrs.com I've used both and they work fine. I wouldn't worry so much about the driving. The major roads in Czech republic are quite good. Now, if you want to drive in the Ruhr region of Germany, I would think long and hard about that LOL.... I'd rather drive a taxi in Bangkok than try to find something in the Ruhr area. Gads.

Thanks Justyn, those two sites sound ideal for what I'm after. Actually I am planning to drive through Germany to get to the Czech Republic. So what's wrong with the Ruhr area?

i did france for ten mins (fine) belgium for a while - fine (avoid brussels) and then germany.. the main problem i had with driving through germany was that it was SO dull. It was a struggle to stay awake. I did feel a bit bullied on the geman autobahns i must admit... all those BMW's and Mercs all zooming along self importantly. Every time one was behind me i felt like it was saying "COME ONNNNNNN!!" (or whatever is german for that). The roads all look the same, even the trees in the picnic areas look scared to have a leaf out of place.

LOLOLOL @ Pesky... Yeah, there are several problems with driving in Germany. One, as Liana mentioned, they like to drive very fast on the autobahn. Stay in the right lane and you'll be ok, but if you want to pass someone, be VERY careful to check behind you for lowflying rocket ships. You could be driving say 140km and they'll pass you going 200+. Two, the Ruhr area is one of the most densely paved places in the world. As long as you merely drive straight through, it shouldn't be an issue, but there are so many roads everywhere, I am amazed there is any land left for buildings, people, or pets. It is a true marvel. This means it is simply confusing, really confusing. Also, expect a lot of traffic jams on the autobahn, especially during rush hour near a big city or during construction. If you turn on the radio to news, you'll hear the word "Stau" more than anything else. Stau means traffic jam. Very important word in German. The US Army radio channel will have traffic news in English as well as much better music than most of the German channels. Three, German drivers all follow the rules. This might sound like a good thing until you realize that they ASSUME that everyone, including you, are also following the rules. They appear to factor in no allowances for other drivers' potential errors. You, as a stranger, are likely to make some mistakes, so just don't make any sudden moves that can't be anticipated by other drivers. Four, and this is probably more of a problem for me than for you, but the signs are confusing. I learned to drive in the US where directions are given in terms of North, South, East, West. For example, I95 north. In Germany it would be A4 Richtung Frankfurt. "Richtung" means 'direction.' Now, that wouldn't be so bad if they limited it to major cities so you could mentally translate that into map directions based upon where you are in relation to the richtung city. Unfortunately, they will often use a relatively obscure city nowhere near where you are. So you must have a fairly decent map with you to find these richtungs so you don't wind up going the wrong way. The last straw for me was when I was driving on a small road and the one sign said "richtung city x" and after pulling into a parking lot to check the map, I learned that xyz city was about 200 kilometers distant!! On the autobahn that would have made sense, but not on some mickey mouse two-lane road in the middle of nowhere. However, if all you're doing is driving straight through to Prague, don't worry. Just stay in the right lane and go.

Thanks again justyn. It's useful to know these things in advance. Another big problem for me, which you've been spared, is remembering which side of the road to drive on. Last time I drove in France I kept forgetting and we had some interesting close encounters. What seemed to be happening was that I told myself to do the opposite of what I was used to doing. But after a while I got used to doing the opposite and so started doing the opposite of the opposite, if you catch my drift.

spammers seem to think that I have a penis and want it enlarged...surgically or with viagra bobbit bobbit bobbit

And there we have as good an expanation as any why I never once drove during my three years in the UK, besides not needing a car in London of course.

PLEASE REPLY THROUGH THIS EMAIL mrsule_collins@indiatimes.com Greetings: You may be surprised to receive my letter, however, I got your contact from the Chamber of Commerce and Trade. I have decided to contact you for confidential, urgent and rewarding joint business. My name is SULE COLLINS, I was a Personal Assistant to the Late Congo President, LAURENT KABILA, who was assasinated in February and my aim of writing to you is because of the need for a trusted and honest person, who I can entrust the sum of US$12,800,000 (Twelve million, eight hundred thousand USDollars). Source of the money: I and the late president secured this money in a security firm in Accra Ghana, in my name before his death. Now that he is late, I want to transfer the money out of Africa, for investment in your country, I can not travel out of where I am on asylum, hence I am asking for your assistance to have this money in your care pending when I will secure travel documents to come over to your country.If you accept this offer we shall share the money as follows: for you, 25%, 75% for me. I have all the title documents to the fund which I can transfer to you to enable you have assess to it. Be assured that is risk-free and legitimate. Please advise me on your position by this e-mail mrsule_collins@indiatimes.com immedaitely, Please I await your prompt reply. MR SULE COLLINS ________________________________________

Looks genuine to me Gary, I'd get on and reply.

I did, and now I have a bunch of money I don't know what to do with. I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself.

I thought Liana was a spammer and put her in the "block these people" section then wondered why her EMail never arrived. I misread her ID as "peskininja", no doubt some kind of irritating martial arts freak.

I thought she was a Japanese assassin as well........very good with a carving knife apparently.

we eat a lot of spam in scotland if thats any use usually with chips but sometimes not...

The spam arriving in my e-mail generally has very tempting subject lines, such as: HOW ARE YOU! CONGRATULATIONS! I now use the "Bounce back" facility on all of them, and since doing so they've dropped from about six a day to two a day. I don't think any of them originate from ABCtales though.

What's the bounce back thing, Karl, I could do with something like that?

neil, have you got the mail NOW?

lol@name liana...hehehe

I don't know if you can get Bounce Back on all e-mail systems, Emma, but it certainly works for me. Instead of opening the suspicious e-mail, you right-click on it. A box appears, and amongst other options is the choice to Bounce the e-mail Back to wherever it came from. It arrives back in their system as Mail Administrator Undeliverable, or whatever it says. You know what I mean. They think yours is a fictitious e-mail address and cut it off their list. They don't want to be selling old lists, do they?

Ah, I'm sure I have this, just never use it. I let the Norton Antispam do its stuff but I still have to delete it all from the spam folder. Norton cleans mail for me often leaving me with a couple of words on and attached file, such as the words quoted above. I should do the bounce back with some stuff, good plan...

I had the exact same e-mail, Radio, that may mean they're getting the addy from here....ooooooer.

and me too - only the names were different ....

Unfortunately all bounce back does is annoy some innocent third party as most of the time spammers spoof the return address. Also, spammers don't clean their lists - they don't give a toss about a certain percentage of their mails not reaching anybody.

Liana: Yes thank you, I've tracked down your fave restaurant on the map and know exactly where it is and how to get there ... I've got two Prague guides which should see us OK; apparently where we're staying isn't particularly touristy which is fine by me, probably quieter and less hassle. Your taxi company is recommended in the Rough Guide too. I'll let you know how we get on Neil

Its actually advisable to book at zahrada v opere neil.. you can register online at their website and do that if you wish. You'll love prague... i havent met anyone yet that's been and hated it. Four days is barely enough though... i dont know why companies do short breaks there, when it is the fullest city in europe. have fun, and i bet you return ...

There's something in this methinks.

Andrew? On a Sunday morning at 6:23? What are you up to, or should I ask?

It's not *that* Andrew. And I'm writing an essay on sexism in advertising, so stop distracting me.

See message #1 at the top of the thread. See, I'm not drunk.

It'll be hard job finding evidence for that essay, i can see why you're grumpy.

Well i still havent recieved that mail... i demand to know why MY address hasnt been harvested!

As punishment for lousy writing, only the worst authors on this web site have been hand selected by the keepers of the queens horse for spamming. Try writing a really bad story and have everybody tell you what's wrong with it. It worked for me.

I get loads of those........in particular the European lottery, chappie even sent me a claim form to collect 2.5 million dollars.........name was Phillip i think?

And while we're on the subject of middle to eastern Europe, I'll be driving there this summer through the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Can anyone recommend any good websites that cater for visitors to those places - ie for things like self catering, B&Bs and hotels?

sometimes i talk pure shit it is because of stress and when these comments appear they should be disregarded with no thought put in to them. last night was one of them stressful nights.

no never. but if its that bad drop mark an email about it. he shold beable to get it sorted or at least explain whats happen. whats the emails about if you dont mind me asking??

Having driven through Czech Republic myself on a 48 hour nightmare, all i can recommend is that you fly...

Yeah, recently I've had tons of spam to the address on my profile (but not to the one I post on the discussion boards). I guess that's where they're getting them from. Pain in he arse though

Unfortunately flying is not an option Liana because someone in my party has a strong, unshakeable aversion to it. So what's so terrible about Czech Republic roads?