On Wed, 19 Feb 1997 21:52:04 EST, "A. Ralph Papakhian"
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>I have to small lists (subscription=by owner) which have been
>bombed in the last couple of weeks by someone at AOL with
>repeated subscription attempts.

Just because they give an AOL address, does not mean they actually are
from AOL.  You would have to look at the complete headers to see if the
address even comes from AOL or some other source, with merely a spoofed
From: address. (which is surprisingly easy to fake).

>What can I do? I, and I think other owners here at IUBVM, have
>been getting several of these each day for several days.

Easy thing is just to hit the delete key.  However, since you are
subscribe by_owner, you can get LISTSERV to help out.  You can setup your
list so that when the subscriber sends in the first request, LISTSERV
responds by sending out a 'questionnaire' (you write the text so you can
say whatever you want) message which requires a reply.  This could be
simple like name, studentID, or whatever.

The point is, if this response winds up in your mailbox, it means the
address is genuine, because you have a confirmed reply.  This is the same
effect you get with Subscription= Open,Confirm.  If the address is fake,
it disappears into limbo, your mailbox never fills up, all is well.
--
 ________________________________________________________________________
 Ben Parker ............ (Oak Park IL) .......... [log in to unmask]