Email Spam Question

by 7 replies
9
I recently signed up for a free WSO in exchange for my email address. Because of past experience, I have almost always used "tagged" email addresses so that I can see who is sharing my email address. So I created a new email address that has never been used elsewhere and was only for this WSO.

Sure enough the spam started. The vendor claims that they didn't share or sell my email address. But in this case only him and Warrior Plus and Goto Webinar (the seller signed me up I guess for a webinar - I didn't sign up with them) knew that email address.

I know people can get hacked or have malware that may reveal email addresses. But if I had something like that going on it seems I'd be getting Russian bride or Viagra type spam but I'm getting IM spam. Maybe we have IM/WF hackers?

Besides that theory, what else could it be besides someone willfully sharing or selling the email address?

Thoughts?

Mark
#off topic forum
  • Banned
    Realistically, almost certainly nothing, in my opinion. Call me judgmental, but personally, I'd be satisfied that that's the explanation. But for myself, I honestly wouldn't be assuming that it was necessarily the person whose WSO I'd bought (I'm not suggesting you're assuming that, either).

    .
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • I have had this happen too many times in the past. Something is wrong here. It's too easy to deny wrongdoing and everyone knows it.

    One fellow denied sharing my address a while back and when I asked him about it he said "well sometimes that just happens." No it doesn't. Sure there are programming issues or bugs or flaws but I believe, for the most part, it's purposefully sharing.

    Mark
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Mark,

      A single use tagged address? You're right. That doesn't "just happen."

      Report it to MikeLantz. PM danieljb and ask what the forum's policy is on this type of thing.

      When you get further email from the seller or the people they traded your address to, go to wheregoes.com and enter the link from the email. It will usually be a redirect, pointing to an affiliate offer. Report the spam, including the full message and the redirect chain, to the appropriate affiliate system. (Clickbank, W+, WarriorPayments, JV Zoo, etc.)

      If it's not through an affiliate system, report it to the seller's web host.

      If it points to a page at this site, report it through the help desk.


      Paul
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
  • [DELETED]
  • Mark,

    You need to check the links through Wheregoes.com as soon as you see the spam. These twits play whackamole, as you've noticed. That's why I only recommended reporting to the web host if it's not an affiliate link.

    My experiences with reporting spam to W+ and JV Zoo have been very positive. It takes more than one report, though, as with any responsible provider.

    Clickbank is very good about this stuff. For JV Zoo and W+, if they don't do anything after repeated reports, start reporting the sellers. Enough of that and they'll be more careful which affiliates they approve.

    If you use Gmail or another free webmail client, report there, too. Just use the spam button. Enough of that and the source will end up blacklisted.

    With a single use tagged address, the odds it's anyone but the seller are extremely small. If one of the networks was compromised, you'd hear about it pretty quickly.


    Paul
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Mark
    I've had the same experience.
    I have no doubt that there are vendors who are to blame...

  • Banned
    That's normal here these days Mark.
    Not just for WSO's.
    If you use an email address in some of these leadpages forms in sig files
    you'd be surprised how many different emails you start getting in return for signing up once.
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    Email Spam Question

    I recently signed up for a free WSO in exchange for my email address. Because of past experience, I have almost always used "tagged" email addresses so that I can see who is sharing my email address. So I created a new email address that has never been used elsewhere and was only for this WSO. Sure enough the spam started. The vendor claims that they didn't share or sell my email address. But in this case only him and Warrior Plus and Goto Webinar (the seller signed me up I guess for a webinar - I didn't sign up with them) knew that email address.