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Summary

Spambots frequently target online signup forms, submitting genuine email addresses alongside fabricated user data. This phenomenon, often referred to as subscription bombing or form spam, can have severe repercussions for email marketers, leading to an increase in spam complaints and a detrimental impact on sender reputation. While these submitted emails are real, the lack of deliberate signup by the recipient creates significant deliverability challenges. The underlying motivations for such automated attacks are diverse, ranging from simple misinterpretations by unsophisticated web crawlers to deliberate malicious acts designed to disrupt services or conceal illicit activities.

What email marketers say

Email marketers frequently face the exasperating challenge of spambots submitting real email addresses to their signup forms. Many initially suspect competitive foul play or simple malicious pleasure as the driving force. Regardless of the motive, marketers widely acknowledge the substantial negative impact these activities have on their email list hygiene, deliverability rates, and overall sender reputation. Their experiences consistently highlight the immediate operational challenges involved in maintaining clean lists and ensuring emails reach their intended inboxes amidst persistent automated attacks.

Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks notes that it is highly unlikely that spambots are run by competitors. It is more probable that the perpetrators derive personal satisfaction from causing issues for innocent individuals and businesses.

12 Apr 2019 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailchimp explains that spambots are automated programs built to find signup form code and submit fake information. These actions, even with valid or invalid email addresses, can lead to hard bounces and spam complaints.

22 Mar 2025 - Mailchimp

What the experts say

Email deliverability experts elucidate that spambots submitting real emails to signup forms generally fall into two categories: unsophisticated SEO spam bots and more advanced subscription bombing attacks. While the former may be an incidental outcome of general web scraping, the latter represents a deliberate act of harassment or an attempt to obscure more serious cybercrimes. This understanding underscores the critical need for robust form security measures to protect both senders and recipients from these pervasive threats.

Expert view

Deliverability expert from Email Geeks states that there are two primary reasons why spambots submit real email addresses to signup forms, highlighting the dual nature of these automated attacks.

12 Apr 2019 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Deliverability expert from Word to the Wise explains that subscription bombing involves criminals using mailing list traffic and confirmation emails to overwhelm mailboxes. This tactic is employed either to conceal criminal activities or as a form of harassment.

12 Apr 2019 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says

Official documentation and security advisories consistently detail spambot behavior on web forms, categorizing their motivations and impacts. They typically explain that while some bot activity is rudimentary, other forms, such as subscription bombing (also known as email bombing or list bombing), are sophisticated attacks with precise malicious aims. These attacks significantly affect both email recipients and email service providers. The documentation frequently outlines technical remedies and outlines best practices for preventing such intrusions, emphasizing the importance of a multi-layered defense strategy.

Technical article

Documentation from Mailchimp asserts that spambots are automated computer programs designed to find signup form code on websites and submit fake information. These submissions, unfortunately, can include real email addresses, causing issues for list owners.

22 Mar 2025 - Mailchimp

Technical article

Documentation from SMTP.com states that protecting signup forms from spambots is crucial. Both valid and invalid email addresses submitted by bots can lead to increased hard bounces and spam complaints, severely damaging sender reputation and deliverability.

22 Mar 2025 - SMTP.com

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