Key Takeaways
The problem in plain words
A WordPress site can attract short, fake comments that try to push people to outside links, often using “official site” language and brand names.
The simple goal
Keep normal comments, but block the patterns that spam repeats.
The practical focus
Use WordPress comment moderation tools and, if needed, a trusted anti-spam plugin.
Story & Details
A familiar kind of noise
On May 12, 2024, a WordPress post drew a kind of attention no writer wants. New comments arrived that did not talk about the post. They sounded like polite greetings, then quickly tried to move readers elsewhere. The message was simple: a friendly hello, and a claim that a “website” was worth visiting.
The names around these comments leaned on recognition. They looked like brand labels and “official” claims. One pointed to a download theme. Another used a well-known virtual private network brand name. Another leaned on a popular messaging service name. The text style stayed the same: a quick greeting, a suggestion, a link-like hook.
What the dashboard quietly shows
Inside WordPress, these comments land in the comment area and can be flagged as spam. The moderation actions are straightforward: approve, mark as not spam, or keep the item in spam. That is helpful, but repetition is exhausting when the same pattern keeps returning.
In the WordPress app, the site menu makes it clear where this work lives: posts, pages, media, and comments. It sits alongside traffic features like statistics and subscribers, and alongside management tools like an activity log, users, social tools, and themes. The point is simple: comment cleanup is not a rare emergency. It becomes part of daily site care when spam shows up.
The best place to fight spam: the patterns
WordPress includes built-in controls that can filter the words, phrases, and link habits that spam repeats. The most effective approach is usually not to chase every new sender name. It is to block what the spam keeps saying.
A classic example is the “official site” style of wording, paired with link-heavy comments. Another is the repeated use of “download” language. Another is the mix of brand names that have nothing to do with the post itself. When those patterns are placed into WordPress moderation and disallowed keyword fields, the site can slow the flood before it reaches the public page.
When built-in tools are not enough
Sometimes the volume is high enough that an anti-spam plugin becomes the calmer choice. Plugins such as Akismet and Antispam Bee are designed to catch common spam signals and reduce manual work, while still letting real readers through. The best results usually come from combining both ideas: strong settings in WordPress, plus a plugin that filters at scale.
A short Dutch mini-lesson, tied to the spam line
The spam sentence can be mirrored in Dutch in a way that is easy to reuse.
Dutch: Hallo, ik wil je een website aanraden.
A very simple whole-meaning guide: this is used to greet someone and suggest a website.
Word-by-word guide: Hallo is “hello.” ik is “I.” wil is “want.” je is “you.” een is “a.” website is “website.” aanraden is “recommend.”
Tone and use: it sounds neutral and polite, and it can appear in both real messages and spam.
The time frame now
By December 13, 2025, this kind of comment spam remains common across public comment areas. The tools to respond are not new, but the need stays current: block the pattern, protect real discussion, and keep the comment space worth reading.
Conclusions
A clean comment section is a design choice
Spam comments try to look normal, but they repeat the same shapes: vague praise, quick “official” claims, and a push to click away. WordPress gives clear controls to filter those shapes. With careful keyword blocking and a trusted anti-spam plugin when needed, the comment space can stay open for real people without becoming a billboard for strangers.
Selected References
[1] https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/comment-moderation/
[2] https://wordpress.com/support/discussion-settings/
[3] https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9482362?hl=en
[4] https://wordpress.org/plugins/akismet/
[5] https://wordpress.org/plugins/antispam-bee/
[6] https://youtu.be/EKwAlBv4ymc
Appendix
Akismet A WordPress anti-spam plugin that checks comments and form entries and filters many spam patterns automatically.
Antispam Bee A WordPress anti-spam plugin focused on blocking spam comments and trackbacks, with options that can reduce reliance on third-party data sharing.
Comment moderation The process of reviewing, approving, rejecting, or marking comments as spam before or after they appear on a site.
Comment queue A holding area where comments wait for review, often used when moderation settings are strict.
Link filter A rule that flags or blocks comments that contain certain links or too many links.
Phishing A scam method that tries to trick people into sharing sensitive information by pretending to be a trusted source.
Search engine optimization A set of practices meant to help pages appear in search results, sometimes abused by spammers who plant links in comments.
Spam Unwanted messages that repeat at scale, often pushing ads, scams, or links with no real connection to the content.
YouTube Studio The main creator dashboard for managing videos, comments, and moderation tools on YouTube.
WordPress A popular publishing platform used to build and manage websites, with built-in tools for handling comments.
WordPress.com A hosted WordPress service with its own settings screens and support guides for comments and discussion tools.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 