Why do at least 50% of spam emails have "Carl" in the subject?
super70s
4:41 am on Aug 3, 2017 (gmt 0)
Just curious. Is this some kind of voluntary signal that the message is spam and should be categorized as such?
If this has ever been discussed on the web it doesn't seem to be showing up on Google.
engine
7:52 am on Aug 3, 2017 (gmt 0)
That must be targeted at you, somehow. If you're name's not Carl, it's possible it's become associated, somehow, and when the databases are bought and sold the replication continues.
super70s
4:50 pm on Aug 3, 2017 (gmt 0)
I see. Since I have absolutely no connection to Carl I just assumed it was happening to everyone. Someone could have just made it up to have a name to go with a valid email (and it's a Yahoo account I'm talking about that gets Carl emails, not my "private" one).
not2easy
5:04 pm on Aug 3, 2017 (gmt 0)
I've never gotten any email with Carl in the subject - but 90% of the "spam" I get is from LinkedIn accounts that have decided to share their Contacts. Maybe someone you know named Carl has a LinkedIn account and the database held on to that connection?
engine
5:21 pm on Aug 3, 2017 (gmt 0)
I checked and I have no Carl in my spam blocking db, so it's some kind of targeting, and probably an error.
I suspect it's the Carl used in files that go back ages.
I sometimes wonder where the spammers get the names, but most likely, in this instance, it's an error that's been multiplied.
Add the name to your spam filter and you'll get rid of 50% of your spam.
lucy24
8:25 pm on Aug 3, 2017 (gmt 0)
When I go into webmail and check my spam folder (necessary periodically because they eat mail sent via the Contact form) I always find huge numbers of spam from the same sender. The sender's exact name changes every few weeks. I guess right now it's “Carl's” turn.
keyplyr
6:16 am on Aug 4, 2017 (gmt 0)
I get a lot of spam email for Bernard. I once had an uncle named Bernard, but he died before the internet was invented. Still I wonder.
tangor
3:45 am on Oct 28, 2017 (gmt 0)
It's Carl Wilson back from the dead to sing a song of summer fun and phishing.
Big query is what spam emails? Your personal account or to your website?
Personal side you just deal with it. Oh, wait, do the same with the web side, too.
Carl is the flavor of the week. Seems to rotate every eight-ten days to yet another name off the top names of new borns....
