Paul Blay wrote:

"Dick Morris" wrote ...

Paul Blay wrote:

*follow-ups trimmed*

"Dick Morris" wrote ...

How exactly do the spammers expect to make money if there is no way to
reply to them directly?

Most have html links included, those that have _no_ other point of contact
than the from address are a probable exception to the faked headers problem.

Going to a web site simply adds an extra step.

A step that renders it possible to extract money from you without having provided
an accurate return address. Thus answering your earlier question, and also providing
indirect evidence towards the implied question "Is it a stupid idea to send spam back
to those spamming you?"

In order to get money from anyone, they have to have a valid credit card
number. If they have an automated means of validating credit
information with their credit card company then that would take the
burden off of them and change the picture considerably. On the other
hand, if they get in the habit of submitting thousands of bogus credit
verification requests per day, then the credit card company might get
the idea that THEY are being spammed and boot the offender off of their
system. I sure as h*ll would. The [stuff] hits the fan somewhere.