September 25, 2001
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freebizmag dot scum
Those of you who have been reading me for awhile -- do I often call someone a "scumbag"? Those of you who haven't been reading me -- this is your chance to read everything I ever wrote
in order to find out if I make a practice of calling people "scumbags."
A new type of spam has begun reaching my inbox. "Our company (that I have never dealt with and never even heard of) feels a great sense of sympathy for the victims of the September 11 tragedy, so BUY FROM US NOW and we'll donate our profits to the American Red Cross." Of course, to buy from them you have to give them your credit card number. Would you normally give your credit card number over the Internet to a company you never heard of before? PLEASE DON'T! (I was going to make a joke about "you can send it to me" but I don't even want the hassle.)
Then there's the guys at "freebizmag" who wrote to tell me they have been working 'round the clock to create a website to accept donations for charities in their local area that aren't set up to take donations over the Internet. Charities, in other words, that I won't know personally. Like I don't know these guys.
And how did they get my email? Because for the first five years that I used the Internet I was naive enough to put it my personal email address on all my webpages and on all my posts to newsgroups.
That's why the only email address I use now in public posting is "anitra@spamcop.net". I funnel all my email through spamcop.net. Whatever spam turns up I click a link, and they analyze the header and generate reports to whatever domains are being used by the spammer. Slowly, slowly my spam is dwindling. Maybe in five more years my address will have been dropped off all the commercial lists. < insert smiley symbol for "I can dream, can't I?" here >
I am reporting all email I get from businesses I don't know who want me to make a contribution to the Red Cross or anyone else through them as spam. I urge anyone else getting such email to do the same thing.
Stomp the little buggers.
Most con artists play on their victim's greed. The ones that make me furious are the ones who take advantage of their victim's compassion.
Please be compassionate -- but be smart about it!
Comments (5)
I have had a few asking for donations to various things, I immediately delete them as I do the ones that make it hard to unsubscribe. I would donate in Australia anyway as no way will I put my credit card number on the internet. I seem to spend half an hour each morning unsubscribing, seems as if you log on to something , they immediately send you theirs. I wiped my ICQ off altogether as I was getting some real weirdos on line.. Cheers Portia
Hi, I filter everthing I recieve to the bulk mail folder and delete daily. I never open e-mails from an unknown source.....they are deleted....My block address thing got full. I've even had them hack into my address to make it appear I'm writing to myself. IF I recognise an e-mail it gets pulled out and put in address book.
The subjects haven't been as nice as asking for contribrutions, but I'm sure there's some there. I just don't read them.
Great advice here - also be vary wary of the latest virus - it also ask for votes, etc for victims, policies and issues.
Excellent advice! Only give to the reputable and if you are not sure, check them out!
AARgh! Stupid people taking advantage of people!
Comments are closed.