Hi folks, Not sure if this is common knowledge, but I just heard about this and it really digusts me.
There is a relatively new technology being used in the e-mail marketing industry called "appending". This is technology that allows a company to send a list of customers to a "service bureau" which then cross references the names to a bunch of databases and returns the customer list with the e-mail address of each customer "appended". Basically, they take a traditional mailing list (name, address only, maybe some demographics) and convert it into a spamming e-mail list. This is clearly spam as the user doesn't even know his email is being merged into some other list he is on. The service bureaus brag about their "append rate" and some claim they can get 40% to 60% good emails. the technology is heuristic -- they are harvesting emails from many sources and then using fuzzy logic matching to minimize "false appends". HERE'S BEEF: These services are being performed by, and being purchased by, VERY LEGITIMATE companies. Many "Madison Avenue" type of direct mail, marketing, PR, and other "Should know better" companies are using these techniques now. Many clients are large companies like cellphone carriers, and other providers -- not the usual scam/porno mailers. (This info is gleaned from the the "client list" profile on the website of some of these "appenders"). Declude probably doesn't need to do anything special - spam is still spam, but this really bothers me that spam technologies like this are starting to become "mainstream" -- Maybe we really do need laws regulating spam as a law would quickly stop all these for-profit, but easily identifiable companies from doing this. FYI - a good source on how "the other side" thinks: http://optinnews.com/read-article.php?id=1104 Or try google "email appending service" --- [This E-mail was scanned for viruses by Declude Virus (http://www.declude.com)] --- This E-mail came from the Declude.JunkMail mailing list. To unsubscribe, just send an E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED], and type "unsubscribe Declude.JunkMail". The archives can be found at http://www.mail-archive.com.
