bogus outlook addresses
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I ended up having to close one blog because of bogus outlook.com addresses and presumably the same person creating over 100 addresses to try and follow or comment on my blog. Most ended up in Trash. But I was so upset that I just didn’t want this ‘troll’ to even view my blog.
I saved some of the addresses and bogus comments. Do you want them and where would I send them?
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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Hi Julespaige,
Wow, that’s horrible! I honestly don’t understand why spammers do things like this…
This recent forum post should help you: https://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/spam-email-subscribers-1?replies=7
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Hello there, I’ve added the MODLOOK tag to this thread to bring it to the attention of Staff. Thanks for your patience while they get back to you.
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Hi julespaige,
We recently had an influx of spam Outlook followers but we are steadily removing them and investigating the source. We have filtered out many of the spam followers so you should start to see them disappear from your followers list.
Followers do not have any special access to your site or account once they start following you, so these spam followers will not able to make changes without your knowledge — you can carry on as normal.
When did the Outlook spam followers come through? Was it today or a few days ago?
Just let me know and we can go from there.
Thanks!
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I got an email reply from JustJennifer –
who asked when did this start. But I’m not sure where to reply-
So I’ll do it here.The first followers appeared Jan 17, and continued to try until Jan 20.
After that the “they” tried for the next two days or so to leave comments.I saved some of the addresses and bogus comments. Do you want them and where would I send them?
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Hi julespaige,
I saved some of the addresses
You can share the email addresses with me in this thread. They will appear redacted if you view the thread but I’ll be able to see the actual email addresses.
And just to confirm — it sounds like you haven’t seen any new spam Outlook followers since 20th January. Is that correct?
and bogus comments.
Our spam filter continually monitors for spam comments but occasionally some will make it through. It’s important to mark these comments as spam rather than deleting them, because this will help train the spam filter. We have a few suggestions for protecting your site from unwanted comments here:
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And just to confirm — it sounds like you haven’t seen any new spam Outlook followers since 20th January. Is that correct?
Yes because a) WP stopped the bogus followers and b) I shut down that site.Addresses include:
Alex (email visible only to moderators and staff)
Alex (email visible only to moderators and staff)
And then when comments started coming each new address had a new name:
Nettie Foster (email visible only to moderators and staff)
Georgina Flores (email visible only to moderators and staff)
Selena Guerra (email visible only to moderators and staff)
I have more… would you like them all? I just deleted a few without copying them and four remain in the TRASH at the site I shut down.Some of the attempted comments include:
Great weblog right here! Also your site so much up fast! What web host are you the use of? Can I am getting your affiliate hyperlink in your host? I desire my site loaded up as fast as yours lol
Great blog here! Additionally your web site quite a bit up very fast! What web host are you using? Can I am getting your associate hyperlink for your host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol
I am not positive where you are getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend a while learning more or understanding more. Thank you for excellent info I was on the lookout for this info for my mission.
I am no longer sure where you are getting your info, but great topic. I must spend some time studying much more or figuring out more. Thanks for great information I was on the lookout for this information for my mission.
Nice weblog here! Also your web site a lot up very fast! What host are you using? Can I am getting your associate link for your host? I desire my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Those are just the first five not actually in the order they came in as I alphabetized them to see if I had repeats. I have 14 more, plus the four still in the Trash at the closed site.
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Thanks for the email addresses. Most of them have already been removed now but I’ve passed on any that haven’t to our developers. Any that are still showing as email followers can be removed in My Sites > People > Email Followers (there should be a Remove link on the right).
Some of the attempted comments include
The spam comments you received are a separate issue from the spam email followers. Most of the spam comments should automatically filter into your Spam folder, but any that don’t can be marked as spam.
If the same words are appearing in these comments, setting up a comment blacklist might be a good option:
https://en.support.wordpress.com/settings/discussion-settings/#comment-blacklist
Those words can be added to the blacklist field at the bottom of your Discussion settings:
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Since I shut down the one site, blacklisting the comments now would be moot. Though I’ll keep that in mind for the future. I suspect the slight changes were to avoid the ‘blacklist’. Which even by using key words would have become extensive. I suspect the comments and follows were all the same ‘person’ or ‘thing’.
Did you want all of the other addresses that I have. Though I suspect you may have most of them. Even if most of mine were attached to attempted comments. As I’ve said I have about 80 -100 total is there another email I can send them all too, directly to the developers, or here – if you want them?
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Hi julespaige,
Did you want all of the other addresses that I have.
The email addresses you have already provided will be fine :) As I mentioned, we are in the process of removing these spam followers from our system. But do get in touch if you have a sudden influx of Outlook followers again.
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