Spam filter and Custom Filters just do not work

[#1]

I'm writing this because of the massive increase in spam emails over the last few weeks. It even doubled last night to over 200.

I was migrated from Plusnet back in December.

In trying to resolve the spam issue I've learnet a lot about the Greenby spam system and the Custom Filters in Webmail.

Firstly, as an ex-Plusnet user, the ability to set up Custom Filters via the Greenby dashboard is not possible. I've been told that there's no timescale available as to when this will be made available for ex-Plusnet users.

So, the most one can do there is to set the level of aggressiveness from 1 to 10, where 1 is the most aggressive. This is one of the first processes that takes place and if the system believes an email is spam, it will put it in the Junk box (because there's no ability at this level to set a Custom Filter, the email will not be deleted and you will just receive it in your Junk mailbox.

I initially thought that by setting Custom Filters at the Webmail level (ie. you have to go into webmail to access these filters), then I could solve the problem there. But it won't because the higher level Spam process has already taken action to put the spam into Junk. Even if you set a custom filter up for a particular spam email (with the Action to delete) , it will not work.

So, what I really need in order to not have to go through potentially hundreds of emails in my Junk box (to sift out any that might not be Junk) is the ability to Delete anything the filters have assigned as spam.

Hope that makes sense. Greenby Support are looking into the issue for me, with examples I've given them and I will report back if there's a successful outcome for us ex-Plusnet users.

[#2]

I suspect that the Greenby spam filter is suffering from dementia and dyslexia.  It cannot remember "Not junk" instructions and cannot read block and white lists correctly. A trip to Specsavers might help. 

[#3]

I've had a reply finally. It reads as follows:

"Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

I do understand your concern. Please note that the spam filters on the Greenby portal or blacklist does not reject the emails. Its just simply puts them into the spam folder.

We are aware of the ongoing spam issues and our team is actively working on a permanent fix. Our team is also working on adding some new features to combat spam".

Not great at all, especially as I now have nearly 600 emails in Junk from over the weekend!

The other thing I'd like to know is why this has only become an issue in the last few weeks? I never had junk email problems when I was with Plusnet (maybe 10 a week if that).

My spam typically comes from these sources . . . . . AAA Member Care, Kroger, Costco, C0stc0, Harbour Freight, AARP, Marriott, Supply Tractor, Tractor co, Omaha Steaks, Blue Cross, Blue Shield Cross, BlueCrossShield etc etc. All use different domain names each time. Obviously my prefernce would be for me to be able to design custom filters to trap these and then for them to be automatically deleted as per filter instruction.

Has anyone else noticed a recent huge increase in spam on the Greenby platform?

[#4]

@rogermhunt Those are fake senders. The spam actually originates from a GoogleGroups account which gets closed down on an infrequent basis, only to be replaced by another one.

Unfortunately, Google, who regularly block mail from genuine senders to Gmail contacts, are totally incapable - or unwilling - to prevent this deluge.

I suffered, like you, from this dung in the past, went through the convuluted 'report spam' procedure on Google on three or four occasions, and have now given up, and will be closing the affected PN  mailbox in the very near future.

[#5]

I'm getting non-stop junk supposedly from the same people as your junk, but in my case, I've not yet been migrated to Greenby.

My email is still on Plusnet and the filters that worked for me for over 20 years seem to have been turned off !

Once my Plusnet contract expires, there is nothing to prevent my finding a proper email service provider, rather than Greenby

[#6]

@irritablegit There's nothing stopping you doing it now, @irritablegit .

[#7]

Yes there is.

a) there's another year to go on my contract

b) it would be helpful if I can keep the email address I've had for over 20 years - and that means waiting till I've been migrated to Greenby

[#8]

Fair enough, I suppose. In my case, I am 'migrated', but as an 'email only' account holder, who has paid for a 12-month 'extension' of my 14 year-old email facility with PN - which still mainly works as expected - I am not prepared to risk disruption.

AFAIK, I have informed all of my contacts (mainly commercial) of the move, and have only got the extension in case I have forgotten anyone.

[#9]

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@rogermhunt wrote:

tco, C0stc0, Harbour Freight, AARP, Marriott, Supply Tractor, Tractor co, Omaha Steaks, Blue Cross, Blue Shield Cross, BlueCrossShield etc etc. All use different domain names each time. Obviously my prefernce would be for me to be able to design custom filters to trap these and then for them to be automatically deleted as per filter instruction.

Has anyone else noticed a recent huge increase in spam on the Greenby platform?

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Have you ever directly responded (replied) in any way to any of these Spam emails?

Personally, to date I have had no increase in Spam, indeed no Spam, on the Greenby platform.

[#10]

Of course not !

I simply try to forward them all to the government site   report@phishing.gov.uk

I say "try" because if I forward too many in a short space of time, they bounce back

This is why I gave up on the auto-forwarding rule

[#11]

Actually, they are rarely to me.  The vast majority are addressed to my wife.

There was a time when many were addressed to me.

Perhaps they are focusing on female names ...

(and NO, my wife has definitely not replied to any)

[#12]

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@irritablegit wrote:

Of course not !

I simply try to forward them all to the government site   report@phishing.gov.uk

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Good!

[#13]

@pvmb wrote:
Personally, to date I have had no increase in Spam, indeed no Spam, on the Greenby platform.

You may be tempting fate.

[#14]

...I'll keep you informed. 😉