A little while ago I had a slightly strange email via the feedback form on my blog. Here it is:
From: June Olsen <june.olsen@cilkr.com>
Date: 5 June 2012 19:20
Subject: Religious Considerations in Higher EducationHello,
I found the information on your blog post insightful as I was researching and writing a series of articles higher education. As a contributor to several of the articles on the website, I believe that the resource covers many progressive topics in higher education and faith including the availability of classes that adequately cover religious topics, the class between universities and religious acceptance, and balancing a student life and religious life.
I’d like to write a guest article on your blog about a topic relating to one of the topics that I’m conducted research in. Would you be interested in working with me on an article?
Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best,
June
I was slightly baffled by this, and wrote back an enquiry as to what it related to. I heard no more.
Today I received this almost identical email via the form on my blog:
From: Sofia Rasmussen <sofiarasmussen3@gmail.com>
Date: 9 June 2012 18:54
Subject: Practical Applications of Philosophical DebatesHi,
I found the information on your blog post insightful as I was scouring the web for research on a higher education (specifically PhD-related) website that I write for. As a contributor to several of the articles on the site, I’m very interested in connecting the findings of rigorous academic research and higher-level philosophies to practical issues we face today.
I’d like to write a guest article on your blog about the topic I suggested above. Would you be interested in working with me on an article idea?
Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best,
Sofia
This makes clear that the first item was spam. It’s too similar. I’ve put in italics the bits that are dropped into what is clearly a standard framework.
Now I see that Google mail is flagging this second item as a possible phishing email.
A google search reveals a third such item here, dated 4th June:
Hi ,
I found the information on your blog insightful as I was scouring the web for research on graduate-school related topics. Through my research, I noticed that the blogosphere (and organizations such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics) has been talking alot about dentistry’s bright future and high rate of growth.
I’d love to write a post for you that perhaps blends this topic with something deeper you are interested in for your blog. How dentistry programs compare to others, innovations and research in dentistry, etc. What do you think? Thanks, and I really look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
(name removed)
Slightly different again … but still spam. Another example, 4th June, is here.
Be warned.