Contact Form Spam - Why? Just Random Letters and Numbers?!?!

Discussion in 'Security' started by Learn2PlayGuitarFast, May 23, 2009.

  1. #1
    Hi,

    I'm a web designer and a customer with a website with a simple HTML form receives hundreds of spam inquiries a day which don't make any sense to me - why are the doing this kind of spam? There are no links in the inquiries, just random letters and numbers. Here is an example:

    Name: Joe Allbaugh
    Phone: LETNZhhWsr
    Email:
    Street: KeGSNyNtWMiTxEWIKB
    City: NJoqGIxDGoBXYNBwJA
    State: ORgAEHZXKLYN
    Zip: DobjlIMKxZvhMmu
    House type: JqwfjlgFDxmEGWtbjI
    Reason for sale: oGaxigZYE
    Need to sell before: YtPslVWPiJjnQr

    I will set him up with a captcha form, so that's not my point.

    My point is: I would like to understand why somebody would send this kind of massive random spam? Are they trying to get an automated response with an email address they could use for further spam? What is the reason for this kind of spam?

    Thanks for any insight... :confused:
     
    Learn2PlayGuitarFast, May 23, 2009 IP
  2. Vekseid

    Vekseid Peon

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    #2
    There is that. Some companies also publish their contacts received, so it may show up as backlinks, etc.
     
    Vekseid, May 23, 2009 IP
  3. powerspike

    powerspike Peon

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    #3
    You might also find that they are doing it to see if they can relay email though your server.

    Other things as well, XSS attacks to get links etc, they post on your form, it gets printed out, and they bookmark it or link to it to get a backlink.
     
    powerspike, May 24, 2009 IP