This is topic Unavailable F. Troll (a spam rant) in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
 
I was emptying out my Gmail spam folder, and there was an email in there from "Unavailable F. Troll." At first glance, I thought it said "Unbelievable F. Troll." Anyway -- who the heck are these people sending that stuff out? Does anyone ever actually open those emails? Does anyone ever actually BUY something from a spammer? I guess they must or they wouldn't keep spamming us, but really . . . and don't even get me started on how disgusting the subject lines of the pornographic ones are getting.

At least U.F. Troll made me laugh with the phony i.d.

Hmm -- there's a newspaper article I haven't seen yet -- "Secret Life of a Spammer." (probably been done a million times, I just haven't seen it.) Who are these people in real life? What do they tell their friends--"I'm in Sales"? Are any of you spammers? Do you know anyone who is?

All I can say is, thank heavens spam filters are getting more efficient. That stuff rarely makes it into my inbox anymore.

/rant
 
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
 
I saw an article a while back (too long to still have a link, sorry) about one of the biggest spammers in the US. He wasn't personally behind any of the spam schemes, but he maintained an enormous list of valid email addresses and would charge other companies to send things to his list. He saw nothing wrong with this whatsoever, and claimed that he was providing a service to both the companies and the people who were on his lists - just look at all the great offers they got because of him.

The great part of this story is in explaining how much money he made, the original article mentioned his brand new million-dollar-plus home and some of its amazing features. Someone figured out his address and posted it on the slashdot discussion of the bio article. He suddenly found himself receiving a few thousand pieces of physical junk mail every day, yet somehow didn't see the justice in it. [Big Grin]

--Enigmatic
 
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
 
Great story!
 
Posted by Sartorius (Member # 7696) on :
 
I set up a Hotmail account just for people to RSVP to and it's been getting some strange spam. Names like Azfar Ali and Muhammed Sami with information on educational Quaran material. Not anything that makes me worried the Government will find it with it's All Seeing Eye and decide I'm a threat to security, but it makes me scratch my head.
 
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
I remember that story, Enigmatic. Sweet.
 
Posted by Swampjedi (Member # 7374) on :
 
What always steams me is when I see spyware that advertises for a spyware remover.

If dissonance had an electric field, I think we could run the world off of it.
 
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
Google-fu, are you with me?

Annnnnnd ... according to this Chicago Sun Times article, he was informed of the $4 million judgment against him in a particularly appropriate way. [Smile]
 
Posted by Swampjedi (Member # 7374) on :
 
Wow, thank you CT, that was hilarious. I'm still gasping for breath. [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
 
That IS poetic justice LOL
 
Posted by Jeesh (Member # 9163) on :
 
[ROFL]
 
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
[Big Grin]

All thanks go to Enigmatic. *bows
 


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