Editor’s Note: This article was originally published by Web Marketing Today. Practical Ecommerce acquired Web Marketing Today in 2012. In 2016, we merged the two sites, leaving Practical Ecommerce as the successor.
I built this list of some 250 words and phrases from two spam filter lists. It is not complete. I have left out porn trigger words. Most spam filters work on a point system, so that the occurrence of just one “spam phrase” probably won’t trigger rejection — except some which the filter considers notorious. SpamAssassin 2.43, for example, assigns default points for these top offenders, as follows:
Reverses aging | 3.37 |
‘Hidden’ assets | 3.28 |
stop snoring | 3.26 |
Free investment | 3.19 |
Dig up dirt on friends | 3.12 |
Stock disclaimer statement | 3.04 |
Multi level marketing | 3.01 |
Compare rates | 2.83 |
Cable converter | 2.75 |
Claims you can be removed from the list | 2.70 |
Removes wrinkles | 2.69 |
Compete for your business | 2.57 |
free installation | 2.51 |
Free grant money | 2.50 |
Auto email removal | 2.36 |
Collect child support | 2.33 |
Free leads | 2.29 |
Amazing stuff | 2.26 |
Tells you it’s an ad | 2.21 |
Cash bonus | 2.20 |
Promise you …! | 2.15 |
Claims to be in accordance with some spam law | 2.11 |
Search engine listings | 2.09 |
free preview | 2.07 |
Credit bureaus | 2.03 |
No investment | 2.01 |
Serious cash | 2.00 |
But even if you don’t use these notorious phrases, other spam words can add up. Here are some to be aware of in your e-mail newsletters — and ads contained in your newsletters.
4U Accept credit cards Act now! Don’t hesitate! Additional income Addresses on CD All natural Amazing Apply Online As seen on Billing address Auto email removal Avoid bankruptcy Be amazed Be your own boss Being a member Big bucks Bill 1618 Billion dollars Brand new pager Bulk email Buy direct Buying judgments Cable converter Call free Call now Calling creditors Cannot be combined with any other offer Cancel at any time Can’t live without Cash bonus Cashcashcash Casino Cell phone cancer scam Cents on the dollar Check or money order Claims not to be selling anything Claims to be in accordance with some spam law Claims to be legal Claims you are a winner Claims you registered with some kind of partner Click below Click here link Click to remove Click to remove mailto Compare rates Compete for your business Confidentially on all orders Congratulations Consolidate debt and credit Stop snoring get it now Special promotion Copy accurately Copy DVDs Credit bureaus Credit card offers Cures baldness Dear email Dear friend Dear somebody Different reply to Dig up dirt on friends Direct email Direct marketing Discusses search engine listings Do it today Don’t delete Drastically reduced Earn per week Easy terms Eliminate bad credit Email harvest Email marketing Expect to earn Fantastic deal Fast Viagra delivery Financial freedom Find out anything For free For instant access For just $ (some amt) Free access Free cell phone Free consultation Free DVD Free grant money |
Free hosting Free installation Free investment Free leads Free membership Free money Free offer Free preview Free priority mail Free quote Free sample Free trial Free website Full refund Get paid Get started now Gift certificate Great offer Guarantee Have you been turned down? Hidden assets Home employment Human growth hormone If only it were that easy In accordance with laws Increase sales Increase traffic Insurance Investment decision It’s effective Join millions of Americans Laser printer Limited time only Long distance phone offer Lose weight spam Lower interest rates Lower monthly payment Lowest price Luxury car Mail in order form Marketing solutions Mass email Meet singles Member stuff Message contains disclaimer Money back Money making Month trial offer More Internet traffic Mortgage rates Multi level marketing MLM Name brand New customers only New domain extensions Nigerian No age restrictions No catch No claim forms No cost No credit check No disappointment No experience No fees No gimmick No inventory No investment No medical exams No middleman No obligation No purchase necessary No questions asked No selling No strings attached Not intended Off shore Offer expires Offers coupon Offers extra cash Offers free (often stolen) passwords Once in lifetime One hundred percent free One hundred percent guaranteed One time mailing Online biz opportunity |
Online pharmacy Only $ Opportunity Opt in Order now Order status Orders shipped by priority mail Outstanding values Pennies a day People just leave money laying around Please read Potential earnings Print form signature Print out and fax Produced and sent out Profits Promise you …! Pure pro fit Real thing Refinance home Removal instructions Remove in quotes Remove subject Removes wrinkles Reply remove subject Requires initial investment Reserves the right Reverses aging Risk free Round the world S 1618 Safeguard notice Satisfaction guaranteed Save $ Save big money Save up to Score with babes Section 301 See for yourself Sent in compliance Serious cash Serious only Shopping spree Sign up free today Social security number Stainless steel Stock alert Stock disclaimer statement Stock pick Strong buy Stuff on sale Subject to credit Supplies are limited Take action now Talks about hidden charges Talks about prizes Tells you it’s an ad Terms and conditions The best rates The following form They keep your money — no refund! They’re just giving it away This isn’t junk This isn’t spam University diplomas Unlimited Unsecured credit/debt Urgent US dollars Vacation offers Viagra and other drugs Wants credit card We hate spam We honor all Weekend getaway What are you waiting for? While supplies last While you sleep Who really wins? Why pay more? Will not believe your eyes Winner Winning Work at home You have been selected Your income |