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spam blocking on outgoing mail

IanSn
Rising Star
Posts: 565
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Registered: ‎25-09-2011

spam blocking on outgoing mail

Have been trying to figure out why an email refused to be sent - getting antispam or virus errors -  and finally solved it.
It had 'PPI' in the message.
Was trying to contact the govt. site for dealing with sms scams and couldn't send via PlusNet.
Tried taking out various parts of the message and sending to myself (on my own server). The one that went okay in the end was the one that had all references to PPI in the body text removed.  Roll_eyes
And the moral of this story is.... er, dunno.....
15 REPLIES 15
Oldjim
Resting Legend
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Registered: ‎15-06-2007

Re: spam blocking on outgoing mail

I just tried sending one to my other account with PPI in the text - no problems  Crazy
IanSn
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Registered: ‎25-09-2011

Re: spam blocking on outgoing mail

Hmm, weirder than I thought!
So, do you have a moment to play with this, out of interest?
This message will not send -
“Records indicate you could be entitled to up to £2,350 in compensation
for mis-selling of PPI on your credit card or loan. reply PPI or STOP .

However, if you remove either or both "reply" or the following "PPI" it goes okay.
What is it about 'reply PPI' that causes the holdup???
Oldjim
Resting Legend
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Re: spam blocking on outgoing mail

Confirmed - odd isn't it
jelv
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Registered: ‎10-04-2007

Re: spam blocking on outgoing mail

I'm seeing the same.
jelv (a.k.a Spoon Whittler)
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Oldjim
Resting Legend
Posts: 38,460
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Registered: ‎15-06-2007

Re: spam blocking on outgoing mail

but sending an email with only "reply PPI" and it goes through OK and so does "compensation reply PPI"
IanSn
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Posts: 565
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Registered: ‎25-09-2011

Re: spam blocking on outgoing mail

how many permutations of this would it take to find out what combo causes the problem!?
IanSn
Rising Star
Posts: 565
Thanks: 31
Registered: ‎25-09-2011

Re: spam blocking on outgoing mail

removing "credit card or loan" works, even with "PPI" and "reply"
At which point, I give up!!
jelv
Seasoned Hero
Posts: 26,785
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Re: spam blocking on outgoing mail

It must be a cumulative score.
People will need to send emails to report issues such as this. Plusnet needs to provide an alternative which will let these through - perhaps with destination addresses restricted (and added on request) to stop it being used to send spam and being blacklisted.
jelv (a.k.a Spoon Whittler)
   Why I have left Plusnet (warning: long post!)   
Broadband: Andrews & Arnold Home::1 (FTTC 80/20)
Line rental: Pulse 8 Home Line Rental (£14.40/month)
Mobile: iD mobile (£4/month)
spraxyt
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Re: spam blocking on outgoing mail

I can understand the words/phrases in context being judged to be spam. I assume the same would happen with a similar incoming message and the blocking action looks OK to me.
What's needed here I think is for that govt site address to be whitelisted by Plusnet so that any messages sent to it would be accepted. Could you mention it here or put it in a ticket (with explanation). Posting the ticket number here would facilitate follow up by the Digital Care Team on Monday.
David
IanSn
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Registered: ‎25-09-2011

Re: spam blocking on outgoing mail

Addresses in question (please remove if there's a mod prob with this!)
mail @ ico.gsi.gov.uk - Information Commissioner's Office
fps @ dma.org.uk - Fax Preference Service
not sure how to do the ticket thing...
bobpullen
Community Gaffer
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Re: spam blocking on outgoing mail

The text will be matching one of the fingerprints used by Cloudmark's Global Threat Network. The fingerprint should be included in the error message that's returned to you when you try sending the mail.
If you think there's a legitimate need to send 'spammy' emails to the above addresses then raise a support ticket containing your justification and a copy of the fingerprint signature string that's returned. If you then post the ticket reference here, I'll pick it up and see what can be done.

Bob Pullen
Plusnet Product Team
If I've been helpful then please give thanks ⤵

IanSn
Rising Star
Posts: 565
Thanks: 31
Registered: ‎25-09-2011

Re: spam blocking on outgoing mail

Thanks for your reply.
So the string of numbers was a fingerprint... right.
If you can see no need for people to be able to send to these spam prevention organisations then leave it.
Re 'legitimacy' and 'justification' - the Information Commissioners Office will no doubt be interested that anti-spam software is preventing them from receiving the info they need to help prevent it... ha!
I can always send via my own server. Not a problem for me personally, I was just trying to helpful.
At least others will now know there's an issue.
bobpullen
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Re: spam blocking on outgoing mail

Quote from: IanSn
If you can see no need for people to be able to send to these spam prevention organisations then leave it.

Eh? Where have I said that? Huh
I think you might have taken my post the wrong way.
Having never used either of the addresses you mentioned, then I've no idea whether or not there's a widespread need to forward spam emails to them. If there is then we'll happily make an exception but we'd need the content of one of the emails you're trying to forward and the fingerprint string.
I doubt the ICO would show any interested in out spam prevention measures.
We appreciate you bringing the problem to our attention.

Bob Pullen
Plusnet Product Team
If I've been helpful then please give thanks ⤵

IanSn
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Posts: 565
Thanks: 31
Registered: ‎25-09-2011

Re: spam blocking on outgoing mail

Hi Bob,
comes of being on the phone to grumpy news editors all day - it rubs off!  I guess I did read you wrong  Embarrassed
The error string was this -
tr4F1i00A5V9pxj01r4GwK message rejected due to spam or virus.
this was the part of the message that caused the problem -
Records indicate you could be entitled to up to £2,350 in compensation
for mis-selling of PPI on your credit card or loan. reply PPI or STOP
"
As the addresses I gave earlier are the ones specifically given to send instances of illegal marketing or spam I think the ICO would like to know that these messages are not being prevented from reaching them!
In this case its illegal text messages to mobile numbers. I've had quite a few of them. (I have no loans or credit card debts so its obviously a scam, but its illegal to send these ads anyway.)
The ICO need this info to tackle the problem, otherwise they can do nothing to stop the offenders.
I expect they are armed at their end to deal with unwanted mail, but they can't be having these contacts blocked outgoing for the senders.
mail @ ico.gsi.gov.uk - Information Commissioner's Office
casework @ ico.gsi.gov.uk - Information Commissioner's Office
fps @ dma.org.uk - Fax Preference Service
I can't figure out how to do the ticket thing, hope this info is sufficient.
cheers,
ian