Comments on: Spamming spammers – with PHP.

By: David

David — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 18:07:07 +0000

This is much better (explatives deleted):

// Revenge E-Mails for Spammers
if (isset($_GET['offender']))
{
$to = $_GET['offender'];
$subject = “You send spam”;
$body = “You spam my website. I *u*k with you a*sh*le.”;
$headers = “From: “.$to.”\n”;
// 250 should do it!
for($i=0; $i

By: Stefan Mischook

Stefan Mischook — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 19:04:48 +0000

@ Thelma,

Just cut and past the script into a php page and change the email address to target – that spammers address.

By: Thelma

Thelma — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 16:51:07 +0000

How is this little script applied? In the body of a reply email (to the actual sender, of course)?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Can I use it on pesky co-workers, too?

By: Ryan Chapman

Ryan Chapman — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 23:56:43 +0000

You’re a total riot! I think that’s awesome. I’ve just come to accept it and auto delete most of it. Does anyone respond to spam positively any more? Is it just a kicks thing? I really don’t understand.

By: Stefan Mischook

Stefan Mischook — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 21:25:31 +0000

This is a very, very simple thing indeed. I never thought this to be a comprehensive solution … just a little jab back.

At the same time, some noobs might pick up some simple PHP.

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 13:21:47 +0000

The only problem with this is you might be spamming someones catch-all on their domain. Spammers know how to use code as well and can simply write a similar script with a spoofed domain. As a joke I once sent my father a bunch of email from bill.gates@microsoft.com. I tend to ignore spam unless it is REALLY annoying, then I will try to backtrack to the true addy and spam to death.

By: Stefan Mischook

Stefan Mischook — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 18:20:15 +0000

I agree with everything you say. I figure I can at least get some of them!

… If I spend more than 2 minutes trying to nail these people, then the point is lost .. if you know what I mean.

That said, the key to dealing with comment spam is to delete them emmediately and to use automated plug-ins like Akismet. When spammers see that there spam gets deleted right away, they are less likely to want to spam.

A great book called ‘The Tipping Point’ goes into great detail about the psychology behind this.

By: Edward Clarke

Edward Clarke — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 09:05:56 +0000

The only problem with that is the amount of work that goes in to find the true, valid email address of the people or website responsible. I’ve done similar things before but mostly went for the company the spammer represented and not the spammer.

Also it’s too easy to delete or set rules to block a single email address so you’ll need to expand on your PHP to spoof the from address and give them back some of their own.