Patent ID: 8892661

Claim:
A network device, comprising: a transceiver to send and receive data over a network; and a processor that receives data from and sends data to the transceiver, and performs actions, including: in response to a request from a new user for a registration for a message account, determining a plurality of user probability values based on at least biographical information, a username and a password for the new user, a network address that is associated with the request, and a degree of similarity of at least a portion of the new user's contact information to at least a portion of multiple other user registration information provided for registering at least another message account within a defined time period, each user probability value is a probability that the message account will be used for abusive purposes; if the plurality of user probability values are classified as abusive in comparison to at least a determined threshold value, inhibiting the message account from at least sending a message to another message account; and in response to receiving a message inbound to the message account: parsing the inbound message to identify a plurality of message characteristics, including at least a message username and message account registration information associated with the inbound message; analyzing the plurality of message characteristics to determine a plurality of probability values for the message; assigning a probability score to the inbound message based in part on the determined plurality of probability values and previously determined data and probability scores for a plurality of other message accounts; classifying the inbound message and related message account as abusive based on the assigned probability score being at or above a determined threshold value; and if the inbound message is classified as abusive, inhibiting delivery of the inbound message; otherwise, enabling the inbound message to be delivered to the message account.