I have to admit, repetitive spam emails drive me crazy! You know the ones, they arrive 10 at a time or regularly throughout the day.

I have explained in other posts how I employ software to deal with spam and virus email like AVG (Anti-Virus Protection) and SPAMfighter which combined filter out most bad emails. But, emails like Pat Taylor’s continue to frustrate me.

I don’t have one or two email addresses, I have over 40. I wear many business hats and require the addresses to present a professional appearance. Over the years, some of the addresses have become obsolete but I keep them active as forwarders for many reasons. This is where a lot of the spam originates from.

Another source is funnily enough an address I created to deal specifically with spam. I created spam@ripefruit.com and have never used it anywhere. I then set up a message rule in my email software that says, if a message arrives addressed to spam@, look through the rest of my incoming emails for the same subject and move them to a folder named “crapspam”. On average, there are 100+ new emails there every day. Often they are PayPal, Apple, eBay and other assorted crap. My logic is, I have never used the address so the only mail to it MUST be spam, clever hey?

But having said all that, emails from Pat Taylor not only bypass my systems, they flood in on a daily basis. Because you never reply to spam (it only confirms to the spammer that your email address is a good address), I cannot find a way of dealing with it. She very cleverly tweaks and changes the emails so message rules don’t always work.

Plus there is the issue of WHY? While I don’t like viruses, I can understand the reason they are sent. But is Pat Taylor from Improve Biz Rankings ever likely to get my business? Is Pat Taylor from Improve Biz Rankings ever likely to do anything but attract a monster fine for breaking Australian Anti-Spam legislation. I just don’t get it? I’ve always said I can find anyone provided I have a little bit of information about the person but I can’t find this wench. the company does not appear to exist? A search for the company name only brings up roi.com.au.

Today, I am contacting Google to see if they can assist as she is using a gmail.com address (Google).

Yes, I understand the mail is not being sent by a person named Pat Taylor or a company called Improve Biz Rankings but we need to find who is sending these emails and put a stop to them.

Spam Email

From: Pat Taylor [mailto:improvebizrankings@gmail.com]
Company: Improve Biz Rankings
Subject: Reminder: Your Website needs Attention!
Location: Melbourne, VIC 3021 < notice error? Postcode for Albanvale, Kealba, Kings Park and St Albans.

Hi,

This is Pat again; I sent you an email recently regarding the On-Page problems with your website palmbeachfn.com.au.

I was going through your website again today and noticed that these problems are affecting your search rankings; I wanted to follow this up with you, we have helped build over 800 websites and are currently the “Fastest growing Internet Marketing Company in Australia!”

Can I call you this week and discuss some proven strategies that could help you perform better online? Looking forward to your positive response.

Best regards,

Pat Taylor
Improve Biz Rankings
Melbourne, VIC 3021

Update | April 2015

I know everyone will be saddened by the news that Pat Taylor is no longer the queen of spam.

Introducing the new and improved, king of spam, Patrick Weddel.

Same company, same pitch, same uninvited emails arrived on GMF Day, Tuesday 21st April 2015.

By day’s end 5 identical emails which means another chat with google seeing he’s using weddelpatrick@gmail.com.

Spam Email

From: Patrick Weddel [mailto:weddelpatrick@gmail.com]
Company: Improve Biz Rankings
Subject: Re: Proven SEO Strategies and Results!

Hi, my name is Patrick Weddel

I’ve been tracking the success of your business website while doing some research on your industry-I’m very impressed with your company, but there are some real opportunities for growth that you currently are missing.

Are you interested in several proven strategies to use content and social media to drive relevant traffic to your site? In 20 minutes I can show you how to fuel your brand and generate more revenue from search engines and social networks.

This is a $500 value free of charge.

I’d like to follow up about this with a quick phone call. Can I call you this week to discuss your campaign?

Patrick Weddel
Improve Business Rankings
Melbourne, VIC 3021

Update May 2015

This will neither surprise you or shock you but our friend Pat Taylor over at Improve Biz Rankings has changed her name, yet again.

She is now Audrey Simmons from Online Reputation Management.

Sadly, the same spam, the same bullshit, same trash emails.

What I really don’t get.. is what Pat, Patrick or Audrey gain from sending out these emails.

They never reply, there are no contact details, it is a pure waste of time

Subject: Reminder: Your Website needs Attention!
Sender: Pat Taylor [mailto:improvebizrankings@gmail.com]
Company: Improve Biz Rankings

Subject: Re: Proven SEO Strategies and Results!
Sender: Patrick Weddel [mailto:weddelpatrick@gmail.com]
Company: Improve Biz Rankings

Subject: Re: Important: Are you a Victim?
Sender: Audrey Simmons [mailto:maintainreputation@gmail.com]
Company: Online Reputation Management

Hi,

This is Audrey again; I sent you an email recently regarding the On-Page problems with your website and never heard back from you.

I was going through your website again today and noticed that these problems are affecting your search rankings; I wanted to follow this up with you, we have helped build over 800 websites and are currently the “Fastest growing Internet Marketing Company in Australia!”

Can I call you this week and discuss some proven strategies that could help you perform better online? It is a $399 value free of charge! Looking forward to your response.

Best regards,

Audrey Simmons
Online Reputation Management
Melbourne, VIC 3021 < someone tell the dope 3021 is NOT Melbourne

Mini Update – May 2015

Since reporting Pat had changed her name to Audrey Simmonds, we have received no less than 12 messages, to different addresses, but all with the same subject and content:

Re: Important: Are you a Victim?
Audrey Simmons maintainreputation@gmail.com

Yes! We are a VICTIM < Google tell us they are very close now to locating them.