perhaps some of you know...
I don't know as much as I'd like to, but I'll give it a shot.
Why can't anti-spam workers simply forget trying to chase down the forged headers and find the URL that spammers always list, which offers a real hit, and shut down that site?
(Most) "anti-spam workers" do not have any more authority to "shut down" a website than you or I have. All they can do (and some of them do this all day long, every day) is (try to) find and contact the "entity" that is responsible for providing the internet connectivity for the website host.
Tracking this "entity" will invariably lead, (ultimately, but there can be many connection twists along the way), to a "major" ISP. Most (all?) major ISPs have an "acceptable use policy" for supplying internet connectivity that prohibits "spammy behaviour". So, the anti-spam activist tells the ISP "You are providing service to (or enabling the activities of) a spammer, in contravention of your (published) policy. Stop it now."
ISPs are more or less interested in hearing that somebody has noticed that one of their (paying) customers is engaged in (or enabling someone who is engaged in) spamming. The more interested ones will take steps to cut the spamvertized website off. (The spammer shrugs and activates an account with a different ISP.)
Here's a site with some (somewhat out-dated) info about the mechanics and the politics of spam.
http://www.claws-and-paws.com/spam-l/tracking.html
I think the info is out-dated for a coupla reasons: First: it has probably been 3? 4? years or more since any serious, knowledgeable, productive, committed anti-spam activist has had the spare time necessary to create/update a website/FAQ on spam. They are engaged full time at the front line of battle with spammers, and clueless or careless or culpable spam-enablers.
Second: Spam activity (and anti-spam activity) on the 'net is a complex and continually evolving process. It is not easy to bridge the "knowledge gap" between anti-spam experts and the average internet user.
Mary
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