This is semi-on-topic.........

I've noticed that I've been getting some very strange email lately.  Ones
that aren't obviously spam, but are just odd, and designed to elicit a
reply.  I've done some searching to see if these are indeed real spammer
tactics, but so far, I've turned up nothing.  My gut feeling is that this
is a big thing... bulk verification of email addresses, disguised as simple
and innocent mis-addressed email.  One line e-mails like "Hey, Jim, this is
Pat, let me know if you got my last email" or "JPASKER, THE TREES ARE ALL
DOWN  -GEORGE"   My thoughts are that they're obviously designed to
convince the user to reply, so the spammer can verify an email address is
live.

The best part about this is that the spammer can spam to verify email
addresses, without arousing too much suspicion, or creating too many spam
reports.

Today, I even got one from someone claiming to be some exiled queen of an
African county, seeking help investing 25 million dollars that she needs to
wire to an account in the USA, but she needed my contact information, so
she could further communicate with me, so I could help her.  (oh, gimmie a
brake!)

There's no level of server defense that can protect a user from their own
ignorance.

Can anyone verify this, or point me to a web link confirming or denying my
suspicions?

-Jerry



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