VB Outlook Macro for Reporting Spam
Ok, this VB script is for Outlook 2007 and is specifically designed for reporting spam (FALSE NEGITIVES) to Commtouch (and a few other reporting services), in the format required by WatchGuard. If you don’t have any idea what I just said, then this is probalby not for you. However, this spam reporting macro could be adaped to be used with most anti-spam providers, I suspect, if you wanted to take the time. This code may work with Outlook 2003 or 2002, but I have not tested it. If it does work, please leave a comment letting me know. If it does not work with those older versions but you adapt it, please feel free to post your changes.
Just FYI.. I have added some addtional “Report SPAM” addresses to this macro as CC. So now, instead of just sending the SPAMs to Commtouch, it will send it to several other anti-spam addresses as well, including the FTC.
If you know of other SPAM reporting addresses, that will accept SPAM as an attachemnt, but that do not require special information in the subject or body of the e-mail, please post them here, along with the web site where the info is posted (so I can verify). Once I verify that the address is legit, functioning and does not require anything special, I will add it to the macro.
SPAM is a Global Problem and yet anti-spam vendors would rather “go their own way” then to work togehter to create a common solution. So, reporting spam to as many vendors as possible so as to help crush the spam as quickly as possible to make it less profitable for the spammers, is a way we can all contribute to solving this problem.
If you don’t want to e-mail those additional addresses, just remove the line with the CC in it (line 6 as of this writing).
The more of us who do this and the more address that we report spam to, the better, as far as I am concerned. And if the commtouch or other vendors cannot handle the volume of Spam Reports that they receive, well that’s just too bad, they can get over it and just make it work.
Please feel free to share this information with anyone you know who receives a significant number of spam. Heck.. Set it up for them and show them how to use it. That way, even non watchguard users can help improve our service! Just an idea.
Add this code using Outlooks built in VB editor..
Public Sub CTReportFN()
Dim olkMsg As Outlook.MailItem
Dim Msg As Variant
Set olkMsg = Application.CreateItem(olMailItem)
Set Sign = olkMsg.GetInspector
olkMsg.BodyFormat = olFormatPlain
Sign.CommandBars.ActiveMenuBar.Controls("Insert").Controls("Signature").Controls("Requests").Execute
olkMsg.To = "reportfn@blockspam.biz"
olkMsg.CC = "spam@uce.gov;KNUJON@COLDRAIN.NET;report@dcm.mailprove.com"
olkMsg.Subject = "FN Report USD447 " & Date
For Each Msg In Application.ActiveExplorer.Selection
olkMsg.Attachments.Add Msg
Next
olkMsg.Display
If MsgBox("This will report this SPAM to Commtouch, the US FTC, MailProve and Knujon. Are you sure?", vbYesNo) = vbYes Then
olkMsg.Send
Else
olkMsg.Close olDiscard
End If
If MsgBox("Auto Delete SPAM Now?????", vbYesNo) = vbNo Then
Set olkMsg = Nothing
Else
For Each item In Application.ActiveExplorer.Selection
item.Delete
Next
Set olkMsg = Nothing
End If
End Sub
Please post code enhancements in the comments! Thanks
Change Log:
9-17-2009 – Added Code Snippet from Alan Mercer that removes Signature
9-17-2009 – Added autodelete of SPAM feature. This sends the SPAM you selected to your deleted Items Folder.
9-17-2009 (3:43pm) – Tweaks added by Alan Mercer that closes the new e-mail window if “No” is selected at prompt.
9-24-2009 – added line 6, to send CC to additional Spam Reporting addresses. Modified line 15 to show the additional Spam reporting services.
10-13-2009 – added line to turn outgoing e-mails into plain text. This strips things like stationary. Also move a couple of lines to remove the sig before it is sent, rather then as it’s being sent.
Contributers:
I would like to thank Alan Mercer for providing the code snippet that removes the signature from the outgoing e-mail. Alan is a true watchguard hero!
Promotinal Links:
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revised to auto close message if No is selected to send mail to Commtouch
Public Sub CTReportFN()
Dim olkMsg As Outlook.MailItem
Dim Msg As Variant
Set olkMsg = Application.CreateItem(olMailItem)
olkMsg.To = “reportfn@blockspam.biz”
olkMsg.Subject = “FN Report amercer ” & Date
For Each Msg In Application.ActiveExplorer.Selection
olkMsg.Attachments.Add Msg
Next
Set Sign = olkMsg.GetInspector
olkMsg.Display
Sign.CommandBars.ActiveMenuBar.Controls(“Insert”).Controls(“Signature”).Controls(“Requests”).Execute
If MsgBox(“Are you sure you want to report these e-mails to Commtouch as SPAM?”, vbYesNo) = vbYes Then
olkMsg.Send
Else
olkMsg.Close olDiscard
End If
If MsgBox(“Auto Delete SPAM Now?????”, vbYesNo) = vbNo Then
Set olkMsg = Nothing
Else
For Each Item In Application.ActiveExplorer.Selection
Item.Delete
Next
Set olkMsg = Nothing
End If
End Sub
Thanks Alan.. I updated the script on the main page..