Tag: low severity

Kosher spam.

Even a local delicatessen needs to follow the rules.

med

ENABLER
Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen and Ronald M. Dragoon
Address unknown

OFFENDER(S)
LB (initials only displayed here; I am in possession of full names, called out in emails)

CHARGE
Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen allows customers to sign up for their Ben’s Preferred Patrons Club and email notifications, without confirming via an email loop that the customer has accurately provided, and/or the Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen CSR has accurately acquired, the customer’s proper and true email address.


DOSSIER
Beginning on August 1, 2009, I started receiving email from Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen. It appears that one of their customers used my email address as their sign up address, and Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen doesn’t employ a confirmation loop, their customer, who likely is a Ben’s Preferred Patrons Club cardholder, is not getting these messages. They are not able to take advantage of any of the offers that Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen gives, ostensibly one of the reasons to join the Ben’s Preferred Patrons Club in the first place.

EVIDENCE
Note that the actual customer’s full name is included in the email.

example-redroofredicard

UNSUBSCRIBE VIA LINK?
Yes, but that would only stop the symptom, not the problem.

CAN-SPAM COMPLIANT?
NO [click for explanation]

REHAB ATTEMPT
I’ve forwarded the email to the email address noted on the actual advertisement with my standard response of their lack of use of confirmation loops and how to fix it.

RESULT
No change

DEVELOPMENTS
As you read this, I have received no response at all from anyone at Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen or Ronald M. Dragoon himself.

Misplaced charity.

A spammer with a heart.

med

ENABLER
Globonder.com
Address unknown

OFFENDER(S)
The site themselves – they created a list by gathering names from the Internet. Their mailing list is managed by a non-US server, http://www.virtualtarget.com.br – not required to be compliant with CAN-SPAM.

CHARGE
Globonder added me to their list without my knowledge or consent, and decided that their “mission” was important enough to be an excuse for this behavior.


DOSSIER
Being placed on a list without my consent is bad enough, but when it’s justified with something along the lines of “Hey – we figured you’d want to be on this great list!” it’s worse. The actual words in the opt-out paragraph: “Disclaimer….if you are on this list it is because we have crossed paths with you somewhere and found you to be an interesting, accomplished person whom we would like to keep on our radar screen. We hope that you find the information in our Globonder Journal and if not, please click on the link at the bottom of this email to unsubscribe. You may send all questions and feedback to lisa@globond.com.”

Which I did. They use http://www.virtualtarget.com.br, so I doubt “Lisa” cares.

EVIDENCE
No names or personalization are included in the email.

example-redroofredicard

UNSUBSCRIBE VIA LINK?
Yes, but that would only stop the symptom, not the problem.

CAN-SPAM COMPLIANT?
Yes [click for explanation]

REHAB ATTEMPT
I’ve forwarded the email to the email address noted on the actual charity pitch with my standard response of their lack of use of confirmation loops and how to fix it.

RESULT
No change

DEVELOPMENTS
As you read this, I have received no response at all from anyone at Globond, or the mysterious Lisa.

Lights out.

They say, “We’ll leave the light on for you.” Um, no.

med

ENABLER
Red Roof Inn, Inc. and RediCard Member Services
2071 N. Bechtle Ave. PMB 226
Springfield, OH 45504-9980

OFFENDER(S)
Unknown – the email message showed no other information than a first name.

CHARGE
Red Roof Inn allows customers to sign up for their RediCard charge card and email notifications, without confirming via an email loop that the customer has accurately provided, and/or the Red Roof Inn CSR has accurately acquired, the customer’s proper and true email address.


DOSSIER
Beginning on September 14, 2009, I started receiving email from Red Roof Inn. It appears that one of their customers used my email address as their sign up address, and Red Roof doesn’t employ a confirmation loop, their customer, who likely is a RediCard cardholder, is not getting these messages. They are not able to take advantage of any of the offers that Red Roof gives, ostensibly one of the reasons to use the RediCard in the first place

EVIDENCE
Note that only the actual customer’s first name is included in the email.

example-redroofredicard

UNSUBSCRIBE VIA LINK?
Yes, but that would only stop the symptom, not the problem.

CAN-SPAM COMPLIANT?
Yes [click for explanation]

REHAB ATTEMPT
I’ve forwarded the email to the email address noted on the actual advertisement with my standard response of their lack of use of confirmation loops and how to fix it.

RESULT
No change

DEVELOPMENTS
As you read this, I have received no response at all from anyone at Red Roof Inn or at their RediCard division.