Not sure where this goes...
 

I don't know if this warrants being posted, but as this is a public web community, I understand that anyone can get anyone of our e-mail addresses. I recieved this e-mail below asn as you can see, it's written to "undisclosed recipient" meaning that it was a list of FT'ers. I wonder how many FT'ers got this as this is the first ever piece of SPAM that I've gotten at my FT address (which I use only for FT) - do you know if someone got a hold and sold the list of addresses at FT? I ask because I doubt that a person when through all the posts and got the e-mail address and copied it down for everyone.

I just thought you may want to know.
-bhatnasx
-------------------------------------


From: "Ron" <[email protected]> | This is spam | Add to Address Book
To: Undisclosed-Recipient@,
Subject: SOUITH AFRICAN PROMOTIONS
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 19:09:04 +0200




Hello there

I saw your post on Flytalk and take it you like to travel.

Please take a moment to read the following as this WILL SAVE YOU A LOT OF MONEY not only now but also in the future on you vacation costs - and I am sure you do want to save money!

Many folk in the USA and Europe are purchasing South African timeshare due to the huge savings.

It is all about an exchange rate advantage. Americans (and others) can buy for $500 to $700 US what they pay $2,500 US for in the USA and elsewhere. Likewise, the typical $400-$500 annual Maintenance Fee in the USA is now only about $100-$125 US/year in South Africa.

Another benefit is that, due to the exchange rate, instead of paying about $80 a year as the annual RCI membership fee, USA owners of SA timeshares are able to buy their RCI membership for about $25-$30 US a year, again due to the favourable exchange rate.

So, after spending $500 to $700 US upfront, the USA SA timeshare owner is only paying a yearly MF of $100+RCI membership of about $30 a year+$129 RCI exchange fee) to trade anywhere within RCI's available 3,700 inventory of resorts situated all over the world.

Members are grinning from ear to ear at having stayed in such fabulous resorts for only $250-$300, when USA citizens pay much more than that.

Most overseas folk say that because they are only investing $500 to $1500 upfront and after getting a few trades it is well worth it -they don't even care if it becomes worthless.

Please take a look at the attachments of our current promotions. Also, if you take the time to go into our web site (below) you will see how your investment is protected and who we are.

If you have gotten this far in the e-mail I trust you find the information interesting and if you have any questions I will be pleased to answer them.

Kind regards

Ron
Fairfields - Established 1986
"Serve Others as you would Serve Yourself"
PO Box 48, Florida Hills 1716
Republic of South Africa
Phone: +27 11 477-4939
Fax: +27 11 477-6613
e-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.fairfields.co.za

I can't answer your question. But I got it too.

Sad to say, it's not hard to search (e.g. using Google) to grab e-mail addresses from our FT profiles, then use a script/robot program to extract all the addresses into a list file for use for spamming later. And once you've got this list, you could also sell it to others, etc. etc. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif

FewMiles..

------------------
[ FlyerTalkers' Resources on the Web ]
[ Unofficial Guide to AAdvantage ] [ Unofficial oneworld Info Desk ]

Got it too, also to the address I only use on FT.

------------------
truly yours. airOli.

http://www.fairfields.co.za

Hi all,

Does anyone else find it peculiar that this spammer uses the motto, "Integrity in Timeshare" at the very top of the web site?

Actually, I'm not sure which is more perplexing: A spammer with that motto, or a timeshare salesperson using that motto???

Later,
Tim in Hollywood

I received it too. The "delete" button worked perfectly http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

What is all the fuss about? The manner of spamming (harvesting) is in the very least questionable but is this any different than the 100's of other spam messages we probably all receive every week? Clicking delete was a 2 second job.

I'm not fussing - I deleted it as well. I was just curious whether or not FT sold/loaned our addresses - I doubt they would, but just wanted to make it aware that this was a possibility.

I think we can all be happy that the spammer used BCC and not CC like Starwood did http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Imagine the havok THAT would have created http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I am 100% certain that Randy & Co. would never, ever sell our email addresses. Not in a million years. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I don't display an email address - and I didn't get the message. Had Randy sold his list, I would have received it. Your address was harvested - your posts are available thru a Google search (along with your email address). http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I certainly don't feel rejected; but I have not received any such e-mail at my FT address (which has been in my profile for now over three years).

Hmmm...wonder if they only searched certain forums??

I feel sooooooo®© discriminated - I didn't receive any such email!

Î love buying time shares. Shame they omitted me. ,)

I got so darn much SPAM I hardly noticed!

-Mark