My spam sense is tingling...

[ellenmillion]

I got another reply on my mattress ad today, but my spam sense is jingling like crazy.

The reply?

I would like to know if your item is still up for sale, I am willing
to buy it from you. Please do let me know as soon as possible. Thank
you hope to read from you soon.

Regards.

No, it doesn't mention viagra or college degrees online, but... how generic can you get? Not one mention about WHAT I'm selling or where... especially given the humorous tone of the ad? Poor grammar? No name as a signoff?

I'm posting this as a public service announcement - if you are ever sending an email, don't do this. This gets filed under junk, and similar emails do, too.

If you need to contact me, say WHAT you are contacting me about. Be specific. Sign off with a name. Grammar is not the only thing I judge an email on, but it COUNTS.

I hate thinking genuine email might get deleted, but not once, ever, has anything this vague turned out to be legitimate.

*deletes*

Comments

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

I did get a yuk out of the ad's description of 'husband's perfect bed'. };)

[pseudopagan.livejournal.com]

I can't say one way or another if it's legitimate, but I can say I have a few ESL friends who type that way in their email ('read from you soon' instead of 'hear from you soon').

[ankewehner.livejournal.com]

I've seen people who speak English as first language who try to win internet arguments by saying things like "I never said that. We are not talking, we are writing".
;)

[pers1stence.livejournal.com]

It also could be the opening salvo in one of those "overpayment" scams where the "buyer" sends you a check for too much money, then asks you to deposit it and refund him the overage. The buyer's check invariably bounces because it's a total fake, they get free money from you in the overage, and you get doubly screwed between the overage and the bounced check fee...

[icedrake.livejournal.com]

Ah, see -- I'd reply anyway, and if things turned spammy (or, more likely, scammy), see how long I could string them along.