Beware This Spam Scam!   11/2/2004 - 1,197 views, 3 Comments

Dear Gentle Readers,

Aunty has just become aware of a brand new scam-by-spam.

The spam tells readers that it has been sent by “an official anti-spam corporation”, that has determined that your email address has been included in several spam mailings, and that they “control those junk mail databases and we are kindly asking you to remove your e-mail address from those databases” by, of course, clicking on the link which they kindly include.

They then go on to explain that if you don’t click here and “remove your address” from their junk mail databases, you will no longer have the right to complain when you receive spam.

Riiiight.

Unfortunately, many people will fall for this, particularly given how recently the possibility of a “Do Not Email” list has been in the news.

So here is your warning, dear readers. Do not respond to this email! It is a scam. No such corporation exists, and clicking on their links will get you added to, not removed from, the junk mail databases.

And now, for your reading enjoyment, Aunty includes nearly the full text of the offending spam:

“Subject: [username], 0fficial N0tification

Hello,

We are an official antispam corporation and we aim to end spam by year 2005.

Your e-mail address has been determined to be included in several spam mailings. Even if you register a new e-mail address, it will shortly be overwhelmed with unsolicited mail.

We now maintain and control those junk mail databases and we are kindly asking you to remove your e-mail address from those databases by clicking the link below.

If you do not remove your e-mail address, you will NOT have the right to complain about spam in the future and your e-mail address will be treated as voluntarily participating in marketing mailings, also known as junk mail or spam.

Please click here to remove your e-mail address from spam databases.

When you remove your e-mail address from all the spam databases by clicking the link above, it will be entered for a chance to win $100,000 as our thanks for helping fight spam.

If you do not wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here to unsubscribe.
fybdnoxujq”

Aunty especially likes the “fybdnoxujq” at the bottom; it’s a nice, friendly touch, don’t you think?