If you just set the model file for the dummy unit to something like apple.mdl (I'm not sure if you need a name in front of the .mdl but I always put something there.) then the spell should work fine with all the right effects. You might have deleted something wrong in the spell on accident.
Try using something like dummyunit.mdl like I said. Then it should work fine and if it doesn't I can't help you man.
EDIT: If you can't get the effect to work at all just make a special effect at position of the dummy unit. It will work as well as using the normal ability effect.
Finally finding about some of the bots that are flooding the users online - bytespider apparently is a huge offender here - ignores robots.txt and comes in from a ton of different IPs
Ghan has said he has fixed this. Monovertex please confirm this fix. This was only a problem with people that had signatures in the upper levels like not the special members but the respected members.