Would you be shocked to find out you've been secretly
involved in a conspiracy to create the fastest growing spam
list ever seen?
If you're a Spam Arrest member, I might have some really bad
news for you.
About 10 days ago, this spam-blocking service blasted a pitch
for their spam-reduction service. It was emailed to your
friends, family, and colleagues. And the really bad news is
they got those private email addresses from your email inbox --
with your permission! And get this... some of your savvy
techie friends might figure out that you're the source of the spam!
This is very serious. It's so bad even your legitimate
email might never reach you.
Here's the scoop:
Spam Arrest filters unsolicited emails before they reach
your email software. There's no software to buy or updates
to worry about... everything is processed behind the scenes.
The idea is simple... even brilliant. Your email inbox is
protected from spammers, and Spam Arrest gets paid
$34.95 a year 'til you say stop.
If Spam Arrest determines that an email comes from a new
sender, it instantly sends a "challenge email only a human
is capable of answering". In simple speak, the sender must
visit Spam Arrest's Web site and type a code that appears on
the screen that can't be seen by computers. When the challenge
is answered, Spam Arrest instantly forwards the email to you
and permanently adds the sender to your "authorized sender list."
From that point on, the senders' email is delivered to you
without delay.
But here's the hitch... your friend's email address is simultaneously
added to Spam Arrest's prospecting database, too. And get
this... you agreed to this arrangement when you tested
their service... here's the Web page with the fine print:
http://www.fetch123.com/spam_arrest_legal
Incredibly, Spam Arrest justifies the practice. For their
response, visit:
http://www.fetch123.com/spam_arrest_reply
Note: I've asked SpamArrest to confirm their stance. So far,
I have not received any response. Some have reported an
apology on their Web site, but it's no longer displayed as of today.
If there is a response, visit my archives for updates at:
http://www.fetch123.com/731270
What can you do?
If you're a Spam Arrest user, stop supporting spammers and cancel
their service.
By the way, be very careful... their terms of service reveals,
"Please note that for users of our services who do not become
Customers following the thirty (30) day f*ee trial period, we will
continue to monitor and track email sent to such user unless
and until the user completes the "Termination of Service" form
on the Site or Spam Arrest decides to cease monitoring and
tracking emails sent to such user."
Translation: Run, don't walk to their cancellation Web page at:
http://www.fetch123.com/spam_arrest_cancel
In the future, you might ignore confirmation requests from
Spam Arrest, (unless you're looking to get even more junk mail).
Instead, contact your friend or colleague by phone or snail mail
and let them know about this problem.
Attention publishers and members of the media:
You have permission to reprint this article without changes
and appending this resources box to the article above:
Source: Markus Allen's $10,000 Marketing Tip of the Day
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