I’m always surprised when a client or friend shows me an email that’s obviously spam and asks me if it’s a real service and should they consider responding. If you’re in this same category then read on to find out how to spot a spammer or an overseas bum-quality service provider (or, if you’re a spammer, then here’s some handy tips to follow to improve your spamming technique).
Below is a copy of a spam email I received. Let’s look at the give-aways that tell me it’s spam.
Here is the email:
Subject: Organic SEO Service at Reasonable Prices!!
Date: 27 January 2015 11:00:13 pm AEDT
Hi
I am Sandeep SEO Consultant.
Advertising in the online world is one of the most inexpensive and highly effective methods of promoting a business.
I was surfing through your website and analyzed that despite having a great design; it was not ranking on any of the search engines (Google Yahoo and Bing) for most of the keywords relating to your business.
I am affiliated with an SEO company based in India that has helped over 200 businesses rank on the 1st Page of GOOGLE for even the most competitive Industries.
We assure you that our SEO prices will give you good amount of margin in your pocket. Also, Your Company and your customer information will be confidential.
Let me know if you are interested and I will send you our company details or create a proposal so you can see exactly where you rank compared to your competitors.
I look forward to your mail.
Regards,
Marketing Manager
Sandeep
Skype: sandeep.chauhan698
#1 Watch out for Gmail addresses
Notice that the email address the message is sent from is a gmail address: wdevelopment73@gmail.com . 99% of the time, spammers use Gmail addresses. Any real company would send an email from their own domain name. And even worse, these guys are so lazy they don’t even match their Gmail address to their pretend company at the bottom of their email – that’s giving spammers a bad reputation!
#2 Watch out for kinky grammar (not to be confused with kinky granma)
Who still uses the word “surf” to describe viewing a website? How odd is the phrase “our SEO prices will give you good amount of margin in your pocket” ? ‘Good margin in my pocket’ seems like a meta-physical view on things to me.
#3 Watch out for claims to have reviewed your site
“I was surfing through your website and analysed that”.
No you didn’t!
#4 What company do they represent?
In this case, none! He signs off with:
“Marketing Manager
Sandeep”
Marketing manager of what? Himself? Often no company is associated with their email signature. You’d think they’d at least make one up.
The four points above are consistently found in almost all marketing related spam emails you may receive. Hopefully now you can easily decide when to press the delete button.