Tracking down a spammer Part II

An interesting article on Slashdot sparked a few new comments that I thought I would add to the BLOG, as this story seems to be getting the most attention [besides The MacMIce Story] than any other story I have posted on FixYourThinking.

I have fielded close to 100 emails about Subscriberbase, Consumer Research Corporation, and Product Test Panel.

I hope that the suggestions and comments here have helped and I hope that my efforts are able to bust this fraudulent company.

Here is what I posted at Slashdot

"The interesting thing is; Slashdot seems to be the #1 place (that I have seen) that readers regularly bash SPAM, but that also participate in one of the MOST MASSIVE email campaigns I have ever seen - the FREE iPOD DEALS.

Look in just about any thread here on Slashdot - you'll see a dozen signatures with people linking to THEIR free iPod link so they can get their required 5 people to join.

What happens is your email is INSTANTLY sold to OptInRealBig when you sign up for this "free deal". OptInRealBIg in turn - is also a harvester - but they can legitimately prove they buy email addresses. So, if quetioned by novice understanding authorities - they can prove they are legit.

Point is - the very people that complain about it [slashdotters] - as far as I can see - are the main contributors to it.

People also fall for these emails from websites like Wotch.com that have little funny flash cartoons. People forward these sites to dozens of their friends - which in turn - each of those emails are harvested.

It kinda is like the election scenario - the people that complained the most; either didn't vote or couldn't vote!

Here is a link to another FixYourThinking article:

Tracking Down A Spammer Pt I