myContactForm.com - Help Forum

[cblackwood]

I noticed another post with regard to this problem but didn't really see a resolution. I also am receiving Spam from our contact form on the web. I have 4 people/sections to choose from and it appears the spam is only being sent to the first contact in the list. I looked at quite a few of the messages and the IP address is changing for each. I was using a drop down box to select the division which defaults to the first one on the list so thinking that might be the problem, I changed the form to be radio buttons. This did not solve the problem. Does anyone have any suggestions and ideas to help with this problem?

Here is an example of a an email received. They are coming from several different email addresses/domains. PLEASE do not click on the links as I do not know what they are for.

=========================================
From: madle@mail.de
Subject: The Bloody Night
Sent: 8/23/2006 at 15:42:34 EST from 208.179.2.131

Name: http://funtik2.b4site.com/pycooe/index.html
Address: A mysterious stableboy threatens a selfish dwarf, resulting in wacky hijinks.
http://funtik2.b4site.com/pycooe/index.html
<a href='http://funtik2.b4site.com/pycooe/index.html'>http://funtik2.b4site.com/pycooe/index.html</a>
http://funtik2.b4site.com/pycooe/index.html
City: http://funtik2.b4site.com/pycooe/index.html
State: http://funtik2.b4site.com/pycooe/index.html
Zip: http://funtik2.b4site.com/pycooe/index.html
Home Phone: http://funtik2.b4site.com/pycooe/index.html
Work Phone: http://funtik2.b4site.com/pycooe/index.html
Fax Number: http://funtik2.b4site.com/pycooe/index.html
When is the best time to contact you?: Evening What is the best means to contact you?: Fax
Message:
=========================================

Thanks

[mycontac]

Other than blocking the IP address, there is nothing that can be done. I am currently working on a new update to the software (slated for release end of November) that will implement a keyword filter for the forms.

Sincerely,

Nick Ladd
myContactForm.com

[cassietillett]

I wonder if you've been able to come up with anything to deal with this problem? I have had this start up recently with a site. I suspect it would be solved, at least in part, if I could make a mandatory field for copying "hidden" text (as Google do when you submit a site); is this possible?

And I thought that using forms would avoid spam...

Cassie Tillett

[mycontac]

Using the form's IP blocking and rate limiting should do a decent job preventing this. In addition, we're working on keyword filters to be released in the very near future (hopefully end of November).

Sincerely,

Nick Ladd
myContactForm.com

[apdo-uk]

Hi - thanks, Nick. Glad to hear about the filtering. However, the IP address blocking won't help, as every last one has been from somewhere different; and can you enlighten me as to what rate limiting is? I can't find any reference to it on the help forums.

[mycontac]

The rate limiting basically limits the number of times your forms can be submitted by a given individual over a given time period. It can be found under the Form Security portion of the control panel.

Sincerely,

Nick Ladd
myContactForm.com

[ddixonart]

I am getting spam too - different IP addresses but the gibberish in them..I don't understand the spammer's point, unless they are just trying to tempt me to email them to find out what it's about, at which point they get my email address. I think the reason there are different IP addresses is that the spammers are hi-jacking the IP addresses, just like they can hijack email addresses.

I will do the rate limit if I get more than a few per day...for now, though...I don't want to limit it because sometimes a client emails and then remembers something they meant to add to the message...and I don't want them to be denied that capability.
------------------

Name: jryfibofbvc
Address: jkjgtjhgtrjjrhgjhtrj and more info


City: jryfibofbvc
State/Province: jryfibofbvc
Zip/Postal Code: jryfibofbvc
Country: (if outside USA): jryfibofbvc
Home Phone: jryfibofbvc
Work Phone: jryfibofbvc
Cell Phone: jryfibofbvc
When is the best time to contact you?: Evening
What is the best way to contact you?: E-mail
Message: jkjgtjhgtrjjrhgjhtrj and more info


Approximate deadline?: jkjgtjhgtrjjrhgjhtrj

[Chillman]

I'm also getting spam. As my website is about a special topic, all I would like to have is a field where the mailing person must type in a special answer.
But in my eyes even better, if there would be some mathematic problem to solve like 6+4 or whatever. Simple tasks, which changes every time. Will this be possible in the next time?

[ddixonart]

I wouldn't send someone a message if they made me do a math problem, even a simple one!

[Chillman]

yeah, so you may get some problems in the future, because this is more and more common in mail forms.

[ddixonart]

I'll just keep the calculator handy, I guess! LOL!
I also mean from a customer service point of view, I don't think my customers would like it, I think they would think I was making them 'jump through hoops' to contact me.