# Contact form only works for spammers **URL:** \ **Category:** Elements\ **Created:** [July 10, 2025, 7:15pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745 "2025-07-10T19:15:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![leadtromba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee59a6/32.png) [@leadtromba](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/leadtromba)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2025, 7:15pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/1 "2025-07-10T19:15:22Z")
I’ve been banging my head against the wall with this since I launched my website yesterday, but I’m stumped. My contact form ([https://chrismageemusic.com/contact/](https://chrismageemusic.com/contact/)) won’t work. My hosting company support confirmed that my settings for connecting to the mail server are correct. Every time that I attempt a test message, it fails. It also failed when the hosting support technician attempted to use it. However, since last night, I have received two email submissions from that form (both spam). Why does it work for those spammers, but it won’t work for me? I’m attaching one of the successful emails. I tried to upload my project file but this system won’t allow the upload, so I have uploaded a copy to my Dropbox [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/33c8hp0x6lmztc4i06si7/ANN71U605IjpzqjkeD8yZp8?rlkey=swj0tgnymlnb72o26z0j1x6te&st=joegb5fe&dl=0). I’d appreciate any help you can provide. Thanks, Chris ![Screenshot 2025-07-10 at 1.36.07 PM](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/realmacsoftware1/original/3X/e/9/e9e4c3703753cfe96d12bf1daa70901cde8a9228.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@pumpkin](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/2 "2025-07-10T20:12:11Z")
This is what I get when I follow your link: ![Screenshot 2025-07-10 at 22.10.47](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/realmacsoftware1/original/3X/f/9/f962d77b23047dcee23f1746b30eb472dbdf47e3.png) ---
**Author:** ![handshaper](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/handshaper/32/27373_2.png) [@handshaper](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/handshaper)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2025, 8:38pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/3 "2025-07-10T20:38:30Z")
I’m curious how you set up the response email to have the formatting shown in your image? ---
**Author:** ![leadtromba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee59a6/32.png) [@leadtromba](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/leadtromba)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 12:56pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/4 "2025-07-11T12:56:45Z")
I opened a ticket with my hosting company about that - so far they say they checked my server for viruses and found none. ---
**Author:** ![leadtromba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee59a6/32.png) [@leadtromba](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/leadtromba)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 12:58pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/5 "2025-07-11T12:58:10Z")
Actually, I didn’t do anything, and since I can’t as yet directly test my form, I don’t know how those emails got that formatting. ---
**Author:** ![Heroic\_Nonsense](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/heroic_nonsense/32/20666_2.png) [@Heroic\_Nonsense](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Heroic_Nonsense)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 1:06pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/6 "2025-07-11T13:06:58Z")
Hi @leadtromba, Your contact form doesn’t work. Those emails that you received from spammers, are made to look like they come from a contact form, but that’s not what those mails look like as standard when you use Element’s form. So, those spammers didn’t magically got your form to work - they’re just trying to trick you into thinking those messages came from your own contact form. Now, WHY doesn’t your contact form work? My guess is it has to do with reCAPTCHA, which fails to load on your website. Also, the SSL certificate for your site isn’t valid (which throws the error that @pumpkin screenshotted). One might be related to the other. I’d first try to get the SSL certificate to work, which your host should be able to help you with. It might be that the reCAPTCHA starts working when the certificate does. If it doesn’t, check back here. Cheers, Erwin ---
**Author:** ![ben](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/ben/32/28488_2.png) [@ben](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/ben)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 2:36pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/7 "2025-07-11T14:36:08Z")
> [@leadtromba](#): > > My contact form ([https://chrismageemusic.com/contact/](https://chrismageemusic.com/contact/)) won’t work. as others have mentioned above, I think one issue is it that your domain/server is not properly setup for https — it gives a warning when viewing the linked page. I’d suggest contacting your hosting company about this issue. > [@leadtromba](#): > > However, since last night, I have received two email submissions from that form (both spam). Why does it work for those spammers, but it won’t work for me? Do you have spam protection setup on your form? > [@leadtromba](#): > > I tried to upload my project file but this system won’t allow the upload Are you trying to upload to [Elements Cloud](https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/elements-docs/elements-cloud/account-sign-up)? (our free platform for sharing Elements projects.) ---
**Author:** ![ben](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/ben/32/28488_2.png) [@ben](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/ben)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/8 "2025-07-11T14:40:27Z")
> [@Heroic\_Nonsense](#): > > Your contact form doesn’t work. Those emails that you received from spammers, are made to look like they come from a contact form, but that’s not what those mails look like as standard when you use Element’s form. @Heroic_Nonsense Just to clarify (and this is our fault not yours) — this is actually one of the new designs for form emails in Elements. We haven’t publicly announced this update yet, but it’s part of a recent backend improvement where the Forms and CMS now share a unified API. @leadtromba So yes, that email layout is expected and it did come from your form. All part of the recent enhancements happening behind the scenes! ---
**Author:** ![pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@pumpkin](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 6:46pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/9 "2025-07-11T18:46:19Z")
I should’ve posted the details earlier: ![Screenshot 2025-07-11 at 20.43.21](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/realmacsoftware1/original/3X/8/1/8114fc2c8c839d8cfc9ce0f5de37564189b13e5d.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![handshaper](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/handshaper/32/27373_2.png) [@handshaper](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/handshaper)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 6:51pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/10 "2025-07-11T18:51:30Z")
> [@ben](#): > > @Heroic_Nonsense Just to clarify (and this is our fault not yours) — this is actually one of the new designs for form emails in Elements. We haven’t publicly announced this update yet, but it’s part of a recent backend improvement where the Forms and CMS now share a unified API. @ben How do we get our emails to adopt this new appearance as it is so much better than the plain text version. If this is not yet available how did these spammers get it to work? ---
**Author:** ![leadtromba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee59a6/32.png) [@leadtromba](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/leadtromba)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 7:06pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/11 "2025-07-11T19:06:12Z")
Thanks. I’m aware of this and I’m awaiting a response from my hosting provider. ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 7:45pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/12 "2025-07-11T19:45:27Z")
> [@handshaper](#): > > @ben How do we get our emails to adopt this new appearance as it is so much better than the plain text version. Should be available in the latest builds, just re-publish your site and give it a try 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![handshaper](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/handshaper/32/27373_2.png) [@handshaper](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/handshaper)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/13 "2025-07-11T20:08:10Z")
> [@dan](#): > > Should be available in the latest builds, just re-publish your site and give it a try 🙂 @dan It seems to be there now, but one of the old problems that @ben had previously elminated has returned. As you can see it is displaying the Turnstile token and for some reason something from reCaptcha, which is not used in my form. ![CleanShot 2025-07-11 at 10.07.37@2x](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/realmacsoftware1/original/3X/7/d/7d2ade29d3b46f28ab0e0b252552dab8f93c9cce.jpeg) Another thing I have noticed with the new form is that it has the FROM set to [john.doe@example.com](mailto:john.doe@example.com), why: ![CleanShot 2025-07-11 at 12.03.41@2x](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/realmacsoftware1/original/3X/3/f/3f760d2ef1d5f6169aef838f9830fc637932db78.png) ---
**Author:** ![leadtromba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee59a6/32.png) [@leadtromba](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/leadtromba)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 12:08pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/14 "2025-07-14T12:08:56Z")
Thanks for everyone’s help. Since I couldn’t get the Elements-based contact form to work, I went with a 3rd party contact form for my website. Thanks Chris ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 12:12pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/15 "2025-07-14T12:12:49Z")
> [@handshaper](#): > > Another thing I have noticed with the new form is that it has the FROM set to [john.doe@example.com](mailto:john.doe@example.com), why: > > ![CleanShot 2025-07-11 at 12.03.41@2x](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/realmacsoftware1/original/3X/3/f/3f760d2ef1d5f6169aef838f9830fc637932db78.png) New settings in the Form… make sure you set the From fields! ![CleanShot 2025-07-14 at 1 .12.30@2x](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/realmacsoftware1/original/3X/1/1/11a563bf4f8679d88fcffa25c4d99936f5e188d1.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![handshaper](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/handshaper/32/27373_2.png) [@handshaper](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/handshaper)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 8:26pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/16 "2025-07-14T20:26:57Z")
My question is what do you set them, too? Is it the same email address used in the TO field? ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/17 "2025-07-14T21:33:12Z")
Yup, the From address should match the Username for the account! > **[Form | RapidWeaver Elements Docs](https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/elements-docs/elements-app/components/built-in-components/form#form-setup)** > > Send form data via email or webhooks ---
**Author:** ![Flash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Flash](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Flash)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 10:10pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/18 "2025-07-14T22:10:11Z")
> [@dan](#): > > Yup, the From address should match the Username for the account! Need a detailed video with explanation for each field. This is going to be a constant struggle on the forum or support ticket otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![handshaper](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/handshaper/32/27373_2.png) [@handshaper](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/handshaper)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 10:58pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/19 "2025-07-14T22:58:07Z")
That is what I did and everything is working fine, except for the fact that the resulting email has a huge amount of crud from Turnstile and reCaptcha, which can normally easily be deleted. But the new form layout (which I like) does not allow you to delete anything when you are forwarding the message (or replying). Hope these will be addresses in a future release. ---
**Author:** ![Fuellemann](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/fuellemann/32/22871_2.png) [@Fuellemann](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Fuellemann)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 9:28am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745/20 "2025-07-15T09:28:01Z")
@dan As I am looking into Elements now, can we disable recaptcha? GDPR wise I would need a consent for this, and I hope you can rather use a honeypot for the contact forms? [Next page](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/contact-form-only-works-for-spammers/48745.md?page=2)