RE: [tlug] B2B e-mail solicitation response

[patrick.niessen@example.com]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Godwin Stewart [mailto:gstewart@example.com] 
> Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 7:15 PM
> To: tlug@example.com
> Subject: Re: [tlug] B2B e-mail solicitation response
> 

> If you meant "Are they as bad as certain other spam 
> messages?", then the answer is definitely "yes". It's all 
> about conSent, not conTent. Therefore, whether the spam is 
> pushing IT services, kiddie pr0n or stolen credit cards it's 
> all the same.

I think in order to qualify for SPAM (capitalised on purpose), you need also
apply another criteria besides content: untargeted mass mailing.  It looks
to me that the company who sent the mail is a very small outfit (perhaps
even only one bloke), trying to genuinely doing business with us (he knew
that we are a small branch of a European company who may need some kind of
IT support), so I guess he got our details from the register of the Chamber
of Commerce, then checked the details of our website to find e-mail
addresses.  So we are not talking our average evil spammer here, merely an
ignorant perhaps computer illiterate (what does it say for his IT business
though?).  He also did not forge any headers or resorted to other fraudulent
practices.

What only pissed me off is that he not only sent it to our general addresss:
solutions@  but also to internship-tech@  which is reserved for applications
from students as the name clearly indicates.


> 
> > How would you respond to the sender?
> 
> By dumping its IP range in the DNSBL having informed the ISP 
> from whence came the mail and on which the spamvertized 
> website is being hosted (altho' the chances are that it's on 
> Chinanet, MCI/WorldScum or VSNL, so good luck...).

A bit harsh innit?  So instead of police warning a burglar to "freeze" and
drop his weapons, they should just shoot him?  How long would the community
continue to support a tough policy on crime if the reality looks like that.
Its important that you first determine that there is a real, serious and
repeated abuse of the mail system, and I understand that the appropriate
procedure is : 1. warn, 2. If repeated abuse complain to provider, 3.
Provider may escalate if not and abuse continues report to lists, right?

 
> > In the past I used something like this:
> > 
> > >Dear Mr. XXX,
> >
> > [snip confirmation of a live e-mail address]
> 
> Well done. You've just opted in to receiving yet more spam.
> 

Rubbish! There was a real person behind this mail not an automatic fraud
spam registration.  I am not talking about personal spam, but about unwanted
real business solicitations, made in an inappropriate manner.  

Patrick

Attached offending mail:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: XXX
> Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 10:50 AM
> To: patrick.niessen@example.com
> Subject: Sorry-
> 
> 
> Mr Niessen
> Thank you for your email and I am sorry to put you to
> inconvience. I am removing your email address from our 
> records as requested. Regards/XXX
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <patrick.niessen@example.com>
> To: XXXXX
> Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 10:34 AM
> Subject: FW: IT services/IT professionals
> 
> 
> > Dear Mr. XXXX,
> >
> > Please remove all our Domain's e-mail addresses from your
> files.  We
> > have not solicited your e-mail and are therefore not interested in
> > your
> service.
> > Should we receive further mail of this nature from you we will
> > initiate e-mail abuse complaint procedures with your provider.
> >
> > Best regards
> >
> > -------FROM-------------------------------
> > Patrick Niessen
> > IT-Manager / Planning & Controlling
> > Gerling Allgemeine Versicherungs-AG, Japan Branch
> > ???????????????? ????
> > TEL. +81-3-5214-1361 / FAX. +81-3-5214-1365
> > URL: http://www.gerling.co.jp
> >


> >
> >
> > F.Y.I.
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: XXXX
> > Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 10:34 AM
> > To: solutions@example.com
> > Subject: IT services/IT professionals
> >
> >
> > M/s Gerling Japan
> > Attn: IT Division
> >
> > Dear Sirs,
> > XXX Ltd, is an IT solutions and services company,
> based in Tokyo
> > Japan, providing the following services a)IT outsourcing and
> > consulting (includes outsourcing Indian IT engineers
> >   to work on on-site projects)
> > b)Web solutions
> > c)Network Solutions
> > d)Software development
> > You can see more details at our web sitexxx
> >
> > Our team of engineers have provided IT consultancy services
> to a major
> > Swiss Insurance company in Japan and several other companies which
> > include a major Japanese e-commerce company. We can service 
> your needs
> > for all IT services/IT skills & human resources.
> >
> > If you are interested in reducing your IT costs and maximising the
> > returns on your IT investments in Japan please let us know 
> and we can
> > schedule a meeting to discuss how we can service your
> specific needs.
> >
> > Thank you for your time.
> > Best regards/XXX XXX
> > ***********************************
>> XXXXXXX
> >XXX XXX Honcho
> > XXX-Ku, Tokyo XXX-XXXX
> > Tel/Fax: 81-3-3xxx-xxxx
> > Mobile:   81-3-8xxx-xxxx
> > Email:    xxx@example.com
> > URL: http://www.xxx.com
> > *************************************
>