Running an email delivery service keeps us constantly on the alert for people trying send spam. I have been figuring out that I can pretty much tell if someone is going to be trouble with their first sentence or two.

Here are the top 10 indications that someone might be a spammer:

10. They refer to SpamCop (or even ReturnPath) as the Internet mafia – and are pretty emotional about it.

9. They refer to sending email as “blasting”.

8. They use profanity. i.e. F&*#ing yahoo is blocking my email.

7. They refuse to openly give out information about themselves or their business and use a freemail address.

6. When you ask for their web site address, they have a big explanation.

5. Any email they send you goes into YOUR spam folder.

4. They use the word “leads” or “acquisition”.

3. They are not afraid to throw wads of cash your way. (lots of money and no place to spend it)

2. They are eating (and chewing sloppily) while on the phone with you.

and finally…

1. They lead the conversation with: “I’m fixin’ to send me some email.”

This is funny and sad, but absolutely true as well. A good portion of our time is used to vet out the numerous new customers that come our way and determine who is acceptable and who is not.

By keeping only the cleanest of senders we are able to provide spectacular deliverability rates for our customers.

Gotta go, someone is on the phone who needs to send 5 million messages today. : )

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