how can I get rid of this spam?

[Isje]

Hi,
Since a couple of weeks users of my site have been reporting spam messages sent through the site that look like this:
You have been sent the following email from a visitor on our website regarding your advert. Full Name: tjowpzuyg Email Address: [email protected] Message: lB1ROk koyochxjbtam, tuzbxgmvwdxw, [link=http://xegstjexzmlt.com/]xegstjexzmlt[/link], http://pdfxfesgqlkn.com/

Any ideas how I can get rid of this crap?
I am currently using freecap captcha
Thanks

[seymourjames]

You could try and use the recaptcha module. It is pretty ugly in its standard form so you will probably want to restyle it.

[Isje]

Where can I restyle it?

There is a link Admin under admin/modules (../administration/modules.php?mod=recaptcha), but when I click on it, it just takes me the admin home page.

[seymourjames]

Download the recpatcha module offered by Eric.

Now Google is your friend - reCAPTCHA: Stop Spam, Read Books . You have to register for a key. There is also a page on this site on how to restyle it to neutral colors; You will also need to adjust the css for your own site to place it nicely within contact and registration forms. This will stop alot of spam. One other deterrent is to only allow registered users to use the the contact forms.

[MrGForce]

What is the difference between the 2 modules?

I'm having this same spam problem, and even with the Freecap Captcha module running, spammers seem to be able to enter the code with no problem.

How does the recaptcha module differ?

[Isje]

I found that page earlier, but where should I add that script?

Originally Posted by seymourjames

Download the recpatcha module offered by Eric.

Now Google is your friend - reCAPTCHA: Stop Spam, Read Books . You have to register for a key. There is also a page on this site on how to restyle it to neutral colors; You will also need to adjust the css for your own site to place it nicely within contact and registration forms. This will stop alot of spam. One other deterrent is to only allow registered users to use the the contact forms.

[seymourjames]

difference - two separated words.

Either circumventing your system or they are a member doing it or they are harvesting emails shown directly on your site. I think it is probably the latter if you are displaying your viewmmember pages with emails shown.

Read please - use Eric's recaptcha module (NOT THEIR ONE) - here is the link ClassifiedMods reCaptcha Module

Then style it using the tools on the site I posted. Then style your own style sheet for the template to make it fit nicely.

[MrGForce]

No David, they aren't harvesting emails from my site as I don't display them anywhere, and tell my members not to do so either. (Some do anyway, but that's their problem.) I also don't let folks even see the listing contact form unless they are a registered member and logged in.

And the spammers are not registered users, as they only spam me at the site's default contact us form, which is available to guests and which I have the freecap captcha module enabled on. Looks like they are either doing it in person or have found a way around the module.

If it don't stop, I will try the two word module to see if that will work. Other than that, I simply make the link available to only registered users.

It's just a shame there are idiots (I used a nice word) out there that have nothing better to do.

[Eric Barnes]

Yes I totally agree about the idiots I would recommend using the recaptcha as it seems to be a better system all the way around. We have started using it here on the forums and I believe it does help but we still get spam almost everyday. I think some people have nothing better to do.

[seymourjames]

I get between 100 to 200 junk emails everyday. I sympathize with you. If they are hitting your main contactus.php then try the recaptcha. It does work better according to many.

One of the things which is happening out there is that people are manually entering details into forms. When they get a reply they book that email into their nice little email marketing program which generates thousands of fake emails and then sell it on to 50 others who then sell it onto 50 others which all do the same. Its like you just go an address book of 5 million email addresses in it. I bet Eric has the same issue as us with our support ticket systems. We politely tell people we have received their email and will get back to them. Somebody gets an autoreponse and they then harvest your email.

When it comes to junk mail there is a reason for it. Not a good one I am afraid. It is about masking emails for crime in the sheer weight of spam. Why the authorities really don't go out and get these people wherever they reside beats me.