Mike,

Do you know what this means, and how it happened?

Joe

----- Original Message ----- From: <82451690@reports.spamcop.net> To: Sent: Friday, May 24, 2002 7:18 PM Subject: [SpamCop (http://spamfilter.website101.com) id:82451690] [Astrology.ca] May 25 Horoscope > - SpamCop V1.3.3 -

> This message is brief for your comfort. Please follow links for details.

The following note come from VIGILANTE via SpamCop

> > I never signed up for this! Send CONFIRMATION emails BEFORE mindlessly signing people up to prevent unauthorized signups! >

My response to my list advertiser is next

Joe,

You have just become latest victim of spam vigilantism by a SpamCop member. It is a hate crime practiced by folks with little else to do but chase phantom criminals because they are so annoyed by REAL spammers. I guess you can't blame them since that is what obviates SpamFilter Service you provide. I have written previous articles on absolute stupidity of this vicious circle. You provide a valuable service with SpamFilter which is intended to stop spam directly. SpamCop thrives, in part, because your very worthwhile SpamFilter service is so necessary. I only wish more people would use SpamFilter and fewer used SpamCop.

Here is usual course of events, Joe.

I host a daily horoscope list that goes to 4500 people. Many times enthusiastic astrology list subscribers sign up friends and relatives without their permission, to share a particular horoscope with them. It's biggest drawback to hosting that list.

But I keep all subscription requests and can prove them. I've had run-ins with SpamCop before and they know about my list and that there are occasional complaints due to those unrequested sign-ups to list by over enthusiastic friends and relatives. As you can see, I am advertising SpamFilter in that daily horoscope and when a complaint goes to spamcop, their mindless automated system sends to every domain listed in email.

I've had trouble with it before and have a section in SpamFilter folder discussing it. Note links to SpamCops Abuses and multiple articles from other victims of so-called service. Most of us are list hosts or have our own newsletters. Read articles I have posted.

http://website101.com/SpamFilter/spamcop.net.html http://website101.com/SpamFilter/spamcops.html http://website101.com/SpamFilter/spammer_spamming.html

All that is required is to notify everyone involved of likely cause, that is friends signing up others without permission. I even directly ask people NOT to sign up others to avoid this trouble. But when it does happen, I always notify my web host, list host and any advertisers in list and it's becoming routine, unfortunately, because of how SpamCop works -- or I should say, doesn't work. That is reason I like your SpamFilter service so much. It removes crap to allow me more time to deal with real issues.

SpamCop is a real issue and I tire of vigilantes involved with them. Unfortunately, it seems not to go away, no matter how many list owners are attacked this way. I'm sending a copy of this to my Web Host, my List Host, to SpamCop, to you and to other advertisers, so that everyone is aware of stupidity involved and doesn't take matter too far. I'll be posting a copy of this in SpamFilter article file as well to further illustrate vigilante nature of SpamCop members.

Makes me think of lynchings and other hate crimes when people do this. Talk about knee-jerk reactions. Notice that complainer is masked by SpamCop? They complain anonymously and it's not possible to respond to them, even when you would like to explain it to them. Neither can you unsubscribe complainer. Usually they just continue to complain and you must continue to defend yourself so your host doesn't take action against you, your list or your site.

In this case I can prove person is subscribed, and if they did complaining directly to me, I could show them subscription and IP address of person that subscribed them. But they string up noose and attempt to hang object of their wrath, even if they ought to be stringing up friend or relative that subscribed them to list without their permission. Note also that there is a plainly visible and always available UNSUBSCRIBE link at bottom of list.

They don't unsubscribe, they would rather complain than to take direct action. It's all really very absurd.

Mike Banks Valentine

Joe wrote:

Mike, Do you know what this means, and how it happened. Joe

----- Original Message ----- From: <82451690@reports.spamcop.net> To: Sent: Friday, May 24, 2002 7:18 PM Subject: [SpamCop (http://spamfilter.website101.com) id:82451690] [Astrology.ca] May 25 Horoscope > - SpamCop V1.3.3 -

Each time Java is launched while I'm reviewing my mail, I almost explode in anger as there is literally nothing I can do to stop it until it loads email, pops up a browser window and I can finally begin to close rapid fire group of popup windows attempting to show hardcore porn or latest body enhancing pills.

A news headline caught my eye same day about a Scottsdale, Arizona based company that was closed down by state attorney general for fraud, using spam to gain customers. C.P. Direct, a company selling penis, breast and even HEIGHT enhancing pills was shuttered and assets seized. Apparently there are way too many men without common sense who purchased those "Longitude" pills and then convinced their significant-others to buy pills offering fuller breasts. It saddens me especially those who fell for pills to make you taller. But it seems to pay well to sell snake oil.

"Among items seized were luxury cars, including a Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, Ferrari and Bentley, $20 million in bank accounts, $3 million in cash and a bounty of luxury jewelry, according to a list of items. Company officials could not be reached for comment. The initial cost of pills was $59.99, plus shipping and handling for a month's supply and $39.99 a month thereafter. Records showed pills cost $2.50 per bottle to manufacture. The company also allegedly sold pills that supposedly guaranteed height increases and bigger breasts, officials said."

http://reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=search&StoryID=1030199