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September 29, 2006

I love it when a wannabe spammer who doesn't understand the technology is so eager to flip the switch to send out spam through botnets that he or she screws up Big Time. It's even better when the mistake reveals some inner workings.

Thus my glee to receive the following spam message template instead of the message filled with "mail merged" words/phrases plugged into the %placeholders:

%GREET

%DEGREE - 2007

Academic %QUALIFICATIONS %AVAILABLE from %NONACCREDITED %UNIVERSITIES.

Do you have the %KNOWLEDGE and the %EXPERIENCE but lack the %QUALIFICATIONS?
Are you getting %TURNED down time and time again for the %JOB of your
dreams because you just don't have the right letters after your name?

Move ahead in your %CAREER %TODAY!
%BACHELORS, %MASTERS and %PHD's %AVAILABLE in y our field!

Call to register and receive your %QUALIFICATIONS within days!
24 hours a day 7 days a week! - Confidentiality assured! - Worldwide!
%NUMBER

%EXIT

The machinery behind this mailing failed to replace the placeholders with various synonyms, greeting and exit paragraphs, or—double oops—the phone number to call to get your phony degree. It looks as though this spammer could use a short course in setting up a spambot. Idiot!