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Spam Detector

My question: How to improve spam detection?

I identify all spam emails as "SPAM" and they go into the Spam Detector folder. I forward all spam emails to: spamdetector.updupdate@verizon.net. It has negligible effect.

Of interest, I use Thunderbird as my email client. It catches much more than Verizon Mail. I have a zoho.com mail accolunt. It catches more than Verizon Mail. Sometimes I wonder if Verizon is in cahoots with the advertizing spammers, e.g. $0.0001 for every spam ad email that it lets through. I know it doesn't make sense but ...

Comments

mdcatdad

I have the same problem, and have resorted to the same solution since I found out where to forward spam, not that it does any good.

Verizon told me that flagging spam as such only blocks it from the same IP address/e-mail address.

SpamDetector worked well for years (I've been with FiOS over 4 years now) but recently it's not detecting waves of spam that appear in my Inbox between 0500 and 0600 each morning.

Verizon: what is being done on your end about this? How can we consumers help?

stu357

Maybe if we all identify email services that do a better job of spam detection than Verizon, a power-that-be at Verizon might "suggest" to the manager of the spam detection software group that they contact those services and find out what they are doing that is different and better. I would be discouraged to see a NIH attitude exisitng at Verizon. Thanks for your inpuit.

Normx

Greeting,

full disclosure: I own Verizon stock.

I also us T-bird. I get very little spam. one a month. maybe. But then I'm anal about telling people not to "send this to everyone in your address book", with all of the emails clearly printed in the forward,forward, and more forward.

My biggest problem is sending security updates and best practices to the 10 people who depend on me.

They are arbitrarily flagged as outgoing spam. When I try to send it to the spam updater, it gets flagged again as spam.

This is Verizon's way of telling you to go somewhere else.

I went through this Gen Tel, ATT and Pac Bell.

I have had several moderators tell me, and other users, the email service is "free". If you don't like, go somewhere else.

Really??? Free???? Just try and get the 6 or so email accounts with yourname@verizon.net without buying Verizon Internet service.

I give Verizon a C+ for overall service.

The only thing Verizon understands is did you pay your bill last month.

If you did, you are a satisfied customer.

Please don't take this as a defense of Verizon.

I'm just pointing out how big business works.

And as Verizon is a monoploy, you 2 choices. Slim and none, and Slim just left town.

Unless you are prepared to walk away with Slim, Verizon won't change how they do business.

normx

And wait until net nutrality is dead and buried. My last proxy ballet from Verizon had a NO Vote on Net Nutrality.

If you think the cost of internet access is expesive now, boy are you in for a big surprise.

bruteforce1

verizon is a spammer part of the problem not the solution

somegirl

@stu357 wrote:
My question: How to improve spam detection?
I identify all spam emails as "SPAM" and they go into the Spam Detector folder. I forward all spam emails to: spamdetector.updupdate@verizon.net. It has negligible effect.
Of interest, I use Thunderbird as my email client. It catches much more than Verizon Mail. I have a zoho.com mail accolunt. It catches more than Verizon Mail. Sometimes I wonder if Verizon is in cahoots with the advertizing spammers, e.g. $0.0001 for every spam ad email that it lets through. I know it doesn't make sense but ...

spamdetector.update@verizon.net is for valid messages that were caught mistakenly by the filter.

spamdetector.notcaught@verizon.net is for spam messages that the filter didn't catch.

Sending to the wrong address works against you.

bruteforce1

somegirl

online tech support tells you to report spam to spamnotcaught just fyi both domains are useless no help what so ever

stu357

Thanks 'somegirl' for the distinction. Verizon Support gave me the address with no qualifications. It would seem that Verizon, among other things, needs to do a better job in preparing their support staff.

Of interest, since I posted the forum entry I have not received any of the spam emails that prompted the posting. Coincidence or another example of "rattling the cage"?

Of note, the spam emails that were the most annoying were those that were sent to my account but when displayed would show no "To" addressee". It would seem that there is something that could be detected here to readily identify them.

Thanks to all for your input.

I've been prompted to identify an "Accepted Solution". One would be an entry by the Verizon development team describing what steps they are taking to improve the spam filtering.

stu357

Update: I thought that "spamdetector.notcaught@verizon.net" would do the trick but, alas, unreasonable expectations.

Looking at the spam headers, my spam originates from:

119.81.xxx.xxx

144.114.xxx.xxx

149.114.xxx.xxx

193.180.xxx.xxx

Is it possible to direct that all emails received from this IP address be directed into my spam folder or automatically deleted?

bruteforce1

@somegirl

Gold Contributor V

@somegirl

Posts: 2,865

Registered: ‎09-15-2009

Location: Texas

1 Kudo

Re: Spam Detector

Options

‎06-10-2014 05:52 AM

@stu357 wrote:
My question: How to improve spam detection?
I identify all spam emails as "SPAM" and they go into the Spam Detector folder. I forward all spam emails to: spamdetector.updupdate@verizon.net. It has negligible effect.
Of interest, I use Thunderbird as my email client. It catches much more than Verizon Mail. I have a zoho.com mail accolunt. It catches more than Verizon Mail. Sometimes I wonder if Verizon is in cahoots with the advertizing spammers, e.g. $0.0001 for every spam ad email that it lets through. I know it doesn't make sense but ...

spamdetector.update@verizon.net is for valid messages that were caught mistakenly by the filter.

spamdetector.notcaught@verizon.net is for spam messages that the filter didn't catch.

Sending to the wrong address works against you.

@tns2

MVP

@tns2

Posts: 1,460

Registered: ‎12-16-2012

2 Kudos

Re: How to stop Verizon from treating non-spam e-mail as spam?

Options

‎06-23-2014 03:10 AM

How do you have the Verizon spam filter set? Make sure you set it to save spam in a folder rather than deleting it.

Check that folder. IF the newsletter is going there you can write a rule to allow a copy to be sent to you EVEN if the newsletter is still considered spam. You should also mark the newsletter as not spam, and hopefully they will update it to stop flagging it.

stu357

So far, here is list of the domain names and thier IP addresses that have initiated spam mails. The information can be found in the email message header. I have enough expereince writing programs that decompose the syntax of a language to know that to write a program that automates picking out this data is rather straightforward. I do not know why it is beyond the technical capabilities of the Verzon technical staff unless there is a reason for not doing it. Possibly, ISPs are legally constrained from blocking emails. A user can but not an ISP. It would be professional to have a Verizon representative respond to that. I can also accept that it is in Verizon's financial interests not to do so. Again, a professional response would be welcomed.

Received from: ISP and Location

p74NQn6GSS.com ([unknown] [45.64.114.248]) India
aceyeson.net ([unknown] [103.18.216.148]) India
broachat.net ([unknown] [103.18.217.137])
cytellin.net ([unknown] [103.18.218.101])
foyiller.net ([unknown] [103.18.219.57])
softlayer.com ([unknown] [119.81.45.57]) SoftLayer Dutch Holdings B.V., Singapore
oX2FqMmfM6.com ([unknown] [150.107.106.15])
batastea.net ([unknown] [161.48.68.35])
76282141215592.com ([unknown] [162.251.1.18]) Virtual VM, Portland, OR
justomra.net ([unknown] [192.25.241.228]) Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA
bioinost.net ([unknown] [192.39.8.59])
bullanus.net ([unknown] [192.39.9.193])
culprico.net ([unknown] [192.72.33.96])
falcidge.net ([unknown] [192.74.210.144])
ensurvin.net ([unknown] [192.171.184.214]) JANET, UK
brionsor.net ([unknown] [192.197.144.120]) US
cariston.net ([unknown] [193.8.212.12])
centains.net ([unknown] [193.39.240.249])
dismarfa.net ([unknown] [194.39.77.230])
cytobiti.net ([unknown] [193.39.95.241])
canethea.net ([unknown] [194.59.211.212])
cargangi.net ([unknown] [194.127.128.66])
cormerno.net ([unknown] [198.17.239.248])
gicasenh.net ([unknown] [198.89.84.216])
indynell.net ([unknown] [198.252.183.159])
acryllin.net ([unknown] [199.68.14.201])
agilover.net ([unknown] [199.68.15.176])
forstove.net ([unknown] [199.187.188.94])
garrefla.net ([unknown] [199.187.189.95])
grasture.net ([unknown] [199.187.190.86])
hayestim.net ([unknown] [199.187.191.239])
burnscan.net ([unknown] [199.201.187.212])
hapencyc.net ([unknown] [203.7.154.216])
allendat.net ([unknown] [203.24.29.89])
arlynetp.net ([unknown] [203.24.30.172])
banjaccu.net ([unknown] [203.24.31.132])
backsopt.net ([unknown] [203.24.28.33])
abolsati.net ([unknown] [203.30.187.161])
bursinet.net ([unknown] [203.57.85.148])
adflacil.net ([unknown] [205.142.12.104])
aeringth.net ([unknown] [205.142.13.107])
erimcave.net ([unknown] [205.236.181.175]) Montréal, Canada
EcVsXDiv5.com ([unknown] [212.174.35.65])
DMuue0V7t.com ([unknown] [212.175.124.191])
ZFAWKRiu.com ([unknown] [212.175.61.68]) Turk Telekom, Turkey

I continue to ferret out this information whenever I receive spam email from one of my Verizon email accounts that is downloaded to my local email client...Thunderbird. Thunderbird readily identifies 99% of them. I do not have Thunderbird configured to delete emails on the Verizon server. I do that manually. Interestingly, most, 98%, of the spam emails are not listed in my emails received at the Verizon server. I don't understand why? An explanation from the Verizon technical staff would be appreciated.

tns2

@stu357 wrote:
So far, here is list of the domain names and thier IP addresses that have initiated spam mails. The information can be found in the email message header. I have enough expereince writing programs that decompose the syntax of a language to know that to write a program that automates picking out this data is rather straightforward. I do not know why it is beyond the technical capabilities of the Verzon technical staff unless there is a reason for not doing it. Possibly, ISPs are legally constrained from blocking emails. A user can but not an ISP. It would be professional to have a Verizon representative respond to that. I can also accept that it is in Verizon's financial interests not to do so. Again, a professional response would be welcomed.
Received from: ISP and Location
p74NQn6GSS.com ([unknown] [45.64.114.248]) India
aceyeson.net ([unknown] [103.18.216.148]) India
...
ZFAWKRiu.com ([unknown] [212.175.61.68]) Turk Telekom, Turkey
I continue to ferret out this information whenever I receive spam email from one of my Verizon email accounts that is downloaded to my local email client...Thunderbird. Thunderbird readily identifies 99% of them. I do not have Thunderbird configured to delete emails on the Verizon server. I do that manually. Interestingly, most, 98%, of the spam emails are not listed in my emails received at the Verizon server. I don't understand why? An explanation from the Verizon technical staff would be appreciated.

I haven't researched yourlist but quite possible these are perfectly valid ISP's. If so Verizon couldn't use the list to block all email from them. All ISP have some abusers that spam the world. And the smaller ones are bad at policing their users.

stu357

These are all vaid IP addresses.I have begun comparing the IP addresses from the "Received from;" and the "Originating IP". So far, I've found the same. Also, I have found that the combination of the domain names and the origination IP address are unique.

I am not asking Verizon to block these. I am looking to Verizon to tag them as spam and move them to my spam folder on their email server. Thunderbird does not bring down spam to my PC .I'll go to the mail server occassionally to check my spam folder to see if any emil was not spam.

Also, I've observed that the domain name of the "Received: from" differs from that of the "Return-path:" address in the header, Maybe the Verizon technicians could tag these as spam when this is the case.

Since advertising revenue continues to drive much on the Internet, maybe ISPs should charge spam producers for each email received. Blocked if no pay. Let the advertisers support the Internet. Just an idea. Advertizing income is important for Google, FaceBook, Hulu and others. Why shouldn't ISPs gain from it too.

So many people are making advertizing money at the expense of the end-user. Hulu provides an option, Hulu+. Subscribe to Hulu+ and get less advertisements in their content. Even the United States Post Office receives benefits from processing spam snail mail. Why shouldn't the ISPs? With the ever increasing use of the Internet, bandwidth has to be increased. Who is going to pay for it? I vote for the advertisers and not the end-users. If Verison were to remove their spam detection and lower their cost to me I could live with that. Thunderbird would become my primary defense. In the open source software arena a solution will always emerge.

Keep in mind that the ISPs aren't spamming the world. It is companies that subscribe to the services offered by the ISP. Another consideration: ISPs provide differing subscription fees based upon the number of emails and recipients. The more emails ones sends by individual recipent, the more it costs. The Internet has a finite bandwidth. The more one pumps data into it, the more they should pay to use it. Now, one can assert that the government should be responsible for providing adequate bandwidth. Is it not just another commercial transportation highway? The cost for doing that, then, passes onto the tax payer. Intuitively somewhere along the way those companies that have the most to gain, namely profits, should be contributing more to supporting that highway. Trucking firms pay more in gasoline taxes.What is going to happen when trucks are electrified. There is always something. This argues against net neutrality. Someone has to pay for increasing the bandwidth. Who will it be?

tns2

Their are now such thing as Valid spam producers that can be charged. If they are spamming the ISP's usually will cancel the users access. Of course some minor ISP and particular some in foreign countries may feel no need to do anything.

Verizon can't use the fact its from these ISP or that the return address is different (at least by itself) to decide to treat these as spam. Lots of such cases are valid. Many GOOD companies that people do business with (i.e. non-spamming companies) use a third party to send mail to their customers.

stu357

7/22/14

I don't know if it was something that I did or that Verizon did but for the past two days, spam detection on Verizon email is as I would expect /want it to be. Spam emails are being directed to my SpamDetector folder and they are not being downloaded onto my PC client.

On Sunday I cleared all the entries in my email settings for filtering and blocking. Then I added the following as filters:

If Subject Contains <my email address@verizon.net> move to SpamDetector
If To does not contain <my email address@verizon.net> delete

If From Contains 5.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 23.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 31.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 37.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 45.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 77.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 91.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 92.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 93.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 103.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 107.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 117.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 119.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 144.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 149.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 150.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 161.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 162.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 192.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 193.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 194.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 195.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 198.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 199.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 202.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 203.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 205.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 206.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 212.*.*.* move to SpamDetector

I'm not sure if the wild-card IP addresses are being applied. I periodically scan the contents of the SpamDectector folder to insure that no valid email is flagged as spam.

Has anyone else experienced improvements in Verizon's spam detection?

billfly

I have the opposite problem with Verizon Spam Detector. I forward a single email to a single person or reply to am email and the Spam Detector rejects it as SPAM. I am so sick and tired of my email to one person being returned to me as undeliverable. I was replying to a job interview email, and had it rejected back. I think Verizon should not treat a single email to a single person from me as Spam. It is really irritating and a violation of my right of free speech.

Elra

I have the same problem. I've maxed out the filters (using them to additionally ID spam). Still getting huge amounts of spam. Agree, this is a relatively new change. Is anyone at Verizon caring? Perhaps we need to get onto social media to publicize? Or perhaps a local news org?

stu357

Billfly,

While I do not have any personal experience with this and based upon what I've learned in this thread, I question if Verizon is proactively blocking emails. I can readily accept that your addressee has established blocking rules which Verizon is enforcing which it should.

I might suggest trying a few things. Create another email account either a subordinate one within Verizon or from another email service. I use zoho.com as a secondary email channel. See if an email gets through with this secondary account. Turn off your modem and after a bit turn it back on. This will change your IP address but not the network address, the leftmost part. Send again. Research the company to which you're submitting your resume. Assure yourself that it is a ligitimate company. I could envision Verizon being proactive in blocking emails to sites that are known to steal identities.

Are you using an email client of your PC/tablet or are you going directly to the email server on the Internet? I receive/send all my email primarily from my client, Thunderbird. I have minimal experience sending/receiving emails at the server interface.

Get back to us and let us know what you expereinced.

Good luck. Hopefully, enjoy the learning experience.

stu357

Elra,

I've found that the return email addresses of spam email is meaningless to use to filter or block.spam. Adding them to your email settings is an exercise in futility. Looking at the headers of the spam emails that I was receiving I saw that many did not contain an explicit "Recipient" address. Such emails where showing up on the client with no "To:" line. Also, I found some spam emails that contained my email address in the subject line. Thus I created the following filters:

If Subject Contains <my email address@verizon.net> move to SpamDetector
If To does not contain <my email address@verizon.net> delete

I'm not sure yet if filtering with wild-carded IP addresses is effective. I'm hoping that TNS_2 will provide some insight.

If you have yet to create these filters, do so and see if it makes a difference.

Please get back to us and let us know.

Thanks.

Note: I would suggest that you do not unsubscribe from a spam email. Doing so confirms to the spammer that the email address is valid and active. Only unsubscribe from emails from sites in which you have at one time selected to to be added to a mailing list.

tns2

@stu357 wrote:
7/22/14

I don't know if it was something that I did or that Verizon did but for the past two days, spam detection on Verizon email is as I would expect /want it to be. Spam emails are being directed to my SpamDetector folder and they are not being downloaded onto my PC client.

On Sunday I cleared all the entries in my email settings for filtering and blocking. Then I added the following as filters:

If Subject Contains <my email address@verizon.net> move to SpamDetector
If To does not contain <my email address@verizon.net> delete

If From Contains 5.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 23.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 31.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 37.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 45.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 77.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 91.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 92.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 93.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 103.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 107.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 117.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 119.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 144.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 149.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 150.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 161.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 162.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 192.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 193.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 194.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 195.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 198.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 199.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 202.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 203.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 205.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 206.*.*.* move to SpamDetector
If From Contains 212.*.*.* move to SpamDetector

I'm not sure if the wild-card IP addresses are being applied. I periodically scan the contents of the SpamDectector folder to insure that no valid email is flagged as spam.

Has anyone else experienced improvements in Verizon's spam detection?

Bad idea. Those are big ranges (and I don't think the spamdetector supports such wild carding) and some of them probably cover some totally valid mail

stu357

TNS_2,

I suspect that your right about SpamDetector not supporting wild-carded IP address filters. I've directed all such filtered emails to be placed in the SpamDetector folder to see if any non-spam emails are flagged. So far, all the emails I've found flagged as spam have been correctly tagged.

So far this week, I've been pleased with SpamDetector. Something changed. I'm hoping that some of the other contributors to this forum thread will share their recent experiences.

Other than the two filtering rules:

If Subject Contains <my email address@verizon.net> move to SpamDetector
If To does not contain <my email address@verizon.net> delete

I'm not sure what a user can do to effectively filter out spam email. Using email addresses or domain names seems futile.

Forwarding emails to: spamdetector.notcaught@verizon.net did not appear to be effective.

Any suggestions?

stu357

I have looked at enough email headers to be able to recognize how a spam email differs more so from what it doesn't have than what non-spam emails have. Being able to flag an email as spam or probable spam should be relatively straightforward. Now, I don't expect the typical email subscriber to have the wherewithal to be analyzing email headers.

The "From" or "Reply to" email address or domain thereof of the email seen by the recipient is useless for filtering or blocking commercial spam. Thinking that one can find a keyword in the subject with which to filter spam is naive or blatantly misleading.

Verizon, based upon its ability to mine header data and the fact that the email standard specifies a context free language structure, is in the only effective position to flag an email as commercial spam or probable spam. Not doing so effectively, as I and so many others strongly feel, is Verizon shirking its responsibility to its email subscribers.

As I see it, Verizon can't block emails. It can flag emails. It can flag them by attaching a suffix to the subject line or placing them into a designated default folder to be subsequently reviewed by the user. Only the user can establish rules to delete emails or direct them to a different destination. The user, though, is responsible for knowing the consequences of signing onto a mailing list. If a user signs onto a mailing list, it is probable that any email sent from that site looks, in the header, like any other valid email and not like commercial spam. Verizon can not be expected to identify as spam emails that are routinely broadcasted by sites which are emailing to a recipient who has opted to have their address be on the list. Somewhere along the way when installing software, there is usually a check box, often times already checked, asking the user if they want to receive additional emails. Similar care should be taken in allowing some software vendors from automatically downloading and updating their software.

It would be both professional and a courtesy to its email users if Verizon management were to be more upfront about the state of its commercial spam detection methodology. Verizon must do a better job in managing the expectations of its users with regard to how it helps the user manage spam.

SpamHater01

I spent an hour last night on the phoen with a Verizon tech. It was a waste of my time and energy. At the end of the coversation all he could say was "sorry, I can't do anything more to help you" I was told I would just have to change my email address to stop spam. How ridiculous is that? I too have been a loyal Verizon customer for 10 years or more and only started having this spam issue 6 months ago.

I get around 30-40 spam messages per day of which 90 % land in my email box and are not filtered by the Verizon Spam Filter. I've managed to block about 10 per day via the filter (using keywords) but Verizon email only allows you a certiain number of filters, so that's not a good solution. I have done everything I can (and what I've been told to do) to prevent spam from coming in including setting up the spam filter, blocking addresses, marking as spam and forwarding the spam to the spamdetector.update@verizon.net and spamdetector.notcaught@verizon.net but NOTHING helps. I even changed my password (as suggested by the tech).

It's pretty depressing that Verizon says there's nothing they can do to stop it. That being said, I don't beleive it. If other companies can prevent spam then so can Verizon. They just don't care to do so. Shame on you Verizon for ticking off one of your many loyal customers.

stu357

SpamHater01,

I have only the following two filtering rules:

If Subject Contains <my email address@verizon.net> move to SpamDetector
If To does not contain <my email address@verizon.net> move to SpamDetector

and Verizon's SpamDetector is working as I want and expect.. I had removed them to see what would happen and {word filter avoidance} happened. I quickly re-entered them.

Now, I differentiate between commercial spam and emails received from sites for which I signed up to recieve whatever emails. I looked at headers for both and saw a difference. The headrers from of emails from the latter look like regular emails that I would get from friends.

Many of the commercial spammers provide an "unsubscribe" option. I do not select that option. Doing so only completes the loop and lets them know that the email address is active. Those sites for which I signed up for emails but no longer want, I select the "unsubscribe" option. In general, it works.

One problem that I've observed is that many sites from which you download programs including updates have options to have your address added to a mailing list. The option box is pre-checked. You are added to that list unless YOU clear that box.The Verizon SpamDetector does not consider these such emails spam.

I hope that this helps.

Stu

somegirl

@SpamHater01 wrote:
I spent an hour last night on the phoen with a Verizon tech. It was a waste of my time and energy. At the end of the coversation all he could say was "sorry, I can't do anything more to help you" I was told I would just have to change my email address to stop spam. How ridiculous is that? I too have been a loyal Verizon customer for 10 years or more and only started having this spam issue 6 months ago.
I get around 30-40 spam messages per day of which 90 % land in my email box and are not filtered by the Verizon Spam Filter. I've managed to block about 10 per day via the filter (using keywords) but Verizon email only allows you a certiain number of filters, so that's not a good solution. I have done everything I can (and what I've been told to do) to prevent spam from coming in including setting up the spam filter, blocking addresses, marking as spam and forwarding the spam to the spamdetector.update@verizon.net and spamdetector.notcaught@verizon.net but NOTHING helps. I even changed my password (as suggested by the tech).
It's pretty depressing that Verizon says there's nothing they can do to stop it. That being said, I don't beleive it. If other companies can prevent spam then so can Verizon. They just don't care to do so. Shame on you Verizon for ticking off one of your many loyal customers.

spamdetector.update@verizon.net is for valid messages that were caught mistakenly by the filter.

spamdetector.notcaught@verizon.net is for spam messages that the filter didn't catch.

Sending to the wrong address works against you.

SpamHater01

Stu357,

Thank you! This worked! Interestingly, it has actually increased the amount of spam I'm getting but at least it's going into the spam folder and not directly into my inbox. Since I have other email addresses that forward to my main email address, I did find that I had to include a couple of other filters so

If Subject Contains <my email address@verizon.net> move to SpamDetector
If To does not contain <my email address1@verizon.net> move to SpamDetector

If To Contains <my email address2@verizon.net> move to InBox

If To Contains <my email address3@verizon.net> move to InBox

This way the emails from the secondary/tertiary addresses go both into the spam box as well as inbox since there's no way to add a filter with "and" or "or" options ie

If To does not contain <my email address1@verizon.net> or <my email address2@verizon.net>move to SpamDetector

Thanks again for your advice and for saving my sanity!

SpamHater01

stu357

SpamHater01,

Thanks, I'm pleased it help.

If you have not already done so, I would suggest some housekeeping on your filter and blocking rules. Try to find the minimum set that meets your needs. I see what happens and re-add them only if neccesary.

If you are not using a email client, like Thinderbird, you might consider it. It will connect to each of your email servers and download messages. You'll no longer have to foward your emails to your primary email account.

Good luck. Enjoy,

Stu

kathwfoz

It makes perfect sense that verizon is in cahoots with the spammers. I only have a verizon email because I have their dsl.

the only contact I have listed is spamdetector.notcaught@verizon.net to forward spam emails

stu357

kathwfoz,

Knowing what I know now, I retract that open question regarding Verizon's relationship...implicit or explicit...with the commercial spammers. Since entering the two filtering rules that I have described above, I have not received any commercial, unrequested spammer emails in my Inbox. I have several email accounts with Verizon and they're all filtering as I want and expect. I would suggest that you try the rules and see if they correct the situation. Please lets us know.

Stu

RA110

I fully agree with you and feel the same frustration. Verizon's spam detector system is useless. Despite all filters spam keeps coming in every single day. But the worst part is (if you have not experience it yet) when you try to reply to legitimate e-mails or send new ones. Your message bounces back just because Verizon's system determined that your message is spam. You are given a URL to go to and check the "new" spam policy. If you "think" your e-mail is legitimate you are required to forward that e-mail to spamdetector.update@verizon.net. If you are lucky you will have the addressee's address unblocked in an hour or so. I did that for quite a number of messages and for many, many days until I noticed that it was taking over a week to get that blockage removed.

I called the tech deparment and after waiting the usual 30 or so minutes on the line, what I got was the most unbelievable reply. My outgoing e-mails were being blocked because of my signature-- "Member of...." For Verizon this "member of...." thing is an indication that I'm a business, which I'm not. In a nutshell what Verizon wants is more money from us. If they consider that you are running a business even if you are a free-lancer, then you need to change your account to a business account--that's what the tech told me. How many free-lancers are out there using their personal accounts to get jobs? Tons of them. Good luck, Verizon. Good bye! You are loosing here a loyal customer for over 10 years! Your spam policy is uselss on both ends.

stu357

RA1,

I don't know if you read the thread or only my initail entry. I am currently happy with Verizon spam detection. It does what I want and expect. It filters out emails from commercial spammers. I had only to define two filtering rules, see above.

You might be receiving unwanted emails because somewhere along the way you did not remove from or you inadventantly entered a check in a check box that added your email address onto a subscription list. An email sent to you using that list looks to a spam detector like a legit email. You can add domain filters to flag such emails as spam. I think it better though to select the unsubscribe option that is often hidden in the small print at the end of the email. Sometimes, though, you must do it a few times.

Don't beat yourself up about it. Don't beat up Verizon. You can't hold them responsible for things you did or didn't do. And I screw up too. Recently I inadvertantly allowed a malware program to install on my computer. It took me several hours of work to remove it, only a couple, though, once I found good instructions on the Internet. A lot of what is out there on the Internet is too old to be helpful. I do question the veracity of some of it.

Good luck.

With regard to your other issue, I have no expereince with that. You might search out another thread that is more applicable to the proble.

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