I have owned and maintained a specific domain name for since Nov which I've had an email catch-all address set up for the majority of the time. I maintain record of all spam sent to this domain regardless of who it is addressed to.
I had completed an order with TigerDirect.com using a unique email address used only when placing this order with TigerDirect. Soon after, I started seeing spam arriving to this email address.
There are filters that I've enabled to remove several spam emails based on subject lines, so there may have been more sent.
Upon receiving the spam, I contacted TigerDirect.com and spoke with someone that stated that they do not sell email addresses. The representitive went on to say 'Even my mother knows that just by having an email address you will get spam'. Here is the kicker: The order was placed through SSL, meaning that when I provided my email address to TigerDirect, it was encrypted and impossible that someone could packet sniff my communication to steal the email address. This means that the only points where the email could have been stolen/misused was either on my local computer or in their order system.
As a web developer, a web host provider, and a general web guru, I know that my machine is secure and that the fault was not on my side which clearly tells me that TigerDirect is directly responsible for releasing my email address to spammers.
I had explained to the representitive everything that I've explained here and that I would be seeking legal council. The emails stopped that day, and I had not received any since to that address. The representative became sassy and asked for my information, which I refused to provide as I didn't want any retailiation actions to come my way. The representative then used what he thought was my phone number to pull up and order placed by someone else. The representative then began reading the name on the order along with what was ordered. This was another violation of their privacy policy as the representative was openly giving out another customers information without confirming my identity.
As for a motive for why TigerDirect might want to sell email addresses? Well, if you factor in the amount received for each *qualified* email address they sell, then they could reduce their pricing to beat competition and bring in more sales. This is purely a guess on my part.
I assume they dumped all emails from the spam list for that day that I place my order, my facts below show why.
I would be interested in persuing a class action lawsuit if there are any lawyers interested in representing this case.
Facts:
1. The email address used does not exist itself by name, therefore it is not stored on the incoming mail server nor is there a mailbox existing.
2. The email used to place an order with TigerDirect was unique and never received any email since 2005.
3. I placed an order using SSL on TigerDirect.com on 4/10
4. Three spam emails received on 4/12 when I had never received any previous since 2005.
5. I called TigerDirect several times on 4/12 and mentioned that I will be persuing legal action.
6. As of 7 months later, no more emails of any kind were received to this address since 4/12.
The emails are below:
Spam #1 =
Return-path:
Envelope-to: *censored*
Delivery-date: Thu, 12 Apr 08:47: 14 -0400
Received: from *censored* by *censored* with local-bsmtp (Exim 4.63)
(envelope-from)
id 1Hbyhk-0006Ds-Km
for *censored*; Thu, 12 Apr 08:47: 14 -0400
Received: from localhost by *censored*
with SpamAssassin (version 3.1.7);
Thu, 12 Apr 08:47: 14 -0400
From: "Mrs Eava Van Boer"
To: "WINNINGS"
Subject: CLAIM YOUR WINNING
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 05:23: 59 0400
Message-Id:
X-Spam-Flag: YES
X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.1.7 (10-05) on
*censored*
X-Spam-Level: *
X-Spam-Status: Yes, score=14.3 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_50,
DATE_IN_FUTURE_12_24, RCVD_IN_BL_SPAMCOP_NET, RCVD_IN_NJABL_DUL,
RCVD_IN_SORBS_DUL, RCVD_IN_XBL, SPF_NEUTRAL, SUBJ_ALL_CAPS
autolearn=spam version=3.1.7
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary=" - =_461E2A52.3A15345F"
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
&=_461E2A52.3A15345F
Content-Type: text/plain
Content-Disposition: inline
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Spam detection software, running on the system "*censored*", has
identified this incoming email as possible spam. The original message
has been attached to this so you can view it (if it isn't spam) or label
similar future email. If you have any questions, see
the administrator of that system for details.
Content preview: INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION Congratulations once again
winner!!! Government Accredited Licensed lottery promoters. The online
Lotto - Zo werkt Lotto draws was conducted from an exclusive list of
25,000, 000 e-mail addresses of individuals and corporate
institutions, picked by an advanced automated random computer search from
the internet. No tickets were sold International emails held on the 3th
April. All winnings must be claim not later than April 28th,
Your email won the lottery. For a total pay out of 1,000, 000.
Please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers: 1,
Batch 9484-9006-0076,2, Ref: 637409467-Nll. 3, lucky numbers
1-0960-31-444, Secret pin code x7pwyz2005 To file for your claim, please
contact CALL NOW TO CLAIM YOUR WINNING PRIZE Advocate Faber Dutchs Tel:
31 -614 318476 Fax: 31-84-728-9686 email - [email protected] law
& Associates In other to claim your 1,000, 000.00 prize winning, fill
the form below and send it to Advocate Faber Dutchs for verification and
then you will be directed how to get a ticket in your name. Send the fill
form to email - [email protected] NAME: AGE: SEX: ADDRESS:...
EMAIL: PHONE:... OCCUPATION: COUNTRY You are to choose from the
below listed options in which best suit you to [...]
Content analysis details: (14.3 points, 5.0 required)
Pts rule name description
1.1 SPF_NEUTRAL SPF: sender does not match SPF record (neutral)
[SPF failed: Please see http://www.openspf.org/why.html? [email protected]&ip=222.239.103.204&receiver=*censored*]
1.0 SUBJ_ALL_CAPS Subject is all capitals
2.8 DATE_IN_FUTURE_12_24 Date: is 12 to 24 hours after Received: date
0.0 BAYES_50 BODY: Bayesian spam probability is 40 to 60%
[score: 0.5002]
2.0 RCVD_IN_SORBS_DUL RBL: SORBS: sent directly from dynamic IP address
[222.239.103.204 listed in dnsbl. Sorbs.net]
1.6 RCVD_IN_BL_SPAMCOP_NET RBL: Received via a relay in bl. Spamcop.net
[Blocked - see ]
3.9 RCVD_IN_XBL RBL: Received via a relay in Spamhaus XBL
[222.239.103.204 listed in sbl-xbl. Spamhaus.org]
1.9 RCVD_IN_NJABL_DUL RBL: NJABL: dialup sender did non-local SMTP
[222.239.103.204 listed in combined. Njabl.org]
&=_461E2A52.3A15345F
Content-Type: message/rfc822; x-spam-type=original
Content-Description: original message before SpamAssassin
Content-Disposition: inline
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Received: from [222.239.103.204] (helo=aim.com)
by *censored* with smtp (Exim 4.63)
(envelope-from)
id 1Hbyhj-0006Bf-Gz
for tigerdirect@*censored*; Thu, 12 Apr 08:47: 12 -0400
Message-ID:
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 05:23: 59 0400
Reply-To: "Mrs Eava Van Boer"
From: "Mrs Eava Van Boer"
User-Agent: Mozilla 4.78 [en] (Windows NT 5.0; U)
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: "WINNINGS"
Subject: CLAIM YOUR WINNING
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
X-Spam-Exim: hQ2LsbPy5gF15OzA8o_icQsc
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION
Congratulations once again winner!!!
Government Accredited Licensed lottery promoters.
The online Lotto - Zo werkt Lotto draws was conducted from an exclusive
list of 25,000, 000 e-mail addresses of individuals and corporate
institutions, picked by an advanced automated random computer search from the
internet. No tickets were sold
International emails held on the 3th April. All winnings must
be claim not later than April 28th, Your email won the lottery. For a
total pay out of 1,000, 000.
Please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers:
1, Batch 9484-9006-0076,2, Ref: 637409467-Nll. 3, lucky numbers
1-0960-31-444, Secret pin code x7pwyz2005
To file for your claim, please contact
*
CALL NOW TO CLAIM YOUR WINNING PRIZE
Advocate Faber Dutchs
Tel: 31 -614 318476
Fax: 31-84-728-9686
email - [email protected] law & Associates
In other to claim your 1,000, 000.00 prize winning, fill the form below
and send it to Advocate Faber Dutchs for verification and then you will be
directed how to get a ticket in your name. Send the fill form to email-
[email protected]
NAME:... AGE:...
...
Sex:... Address:...
...
Email:... Phone:...
...
Occupation:...: country...
You are to choose from the below listed options in which best suit you to
Recieve your prize,
1. Bank swift wire transfer (Cheque Issued by the Paying Bank)
2. Courier delivery.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs Eava Van Boer
Online coordinator
Sweepstakes International Program.
&=_461E2A52.3A15345F—
=
Spam #2 =
Return-path:
Envelope-to: @*censored*
Delivery-date: Thu, 12 Apr 21:59: 14 -0400
Received: from by *censored* with local-bsmtp (Exim 4.63)
(envelope-from)
id 1HcB4E-0002eh-2e
for @*censored*; Thu, 12 Apr 21:59: 14 -0400
Received: from localhost by *censored*
with SpamAssassin (version 3.1.7);
Thu, 12 Apr 21:59: 14 -0400
From: mallam musti
To: tigerdirect@*censored*
Subject: HELLO REPLY
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 02:10: 19 0200
Message-Id:
X-Spam-Flag: YES
X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.1.7 (10-05) on
*censored*
X-Spam-Level: *
X-Spam-Status: Yes, score=11.5 required=5.0 tests=ADVANCE_FEE_1, ADVANCE_FEE_2,
ADVANCE_FEE_3, BAYES_50, DNS_FROM_RFC_ABUSE, DNS_FROM_RFC_POST,
SPF_SOFTFAIL, SUBJ_ALL_CAPS, SUB_HELLO, URG_BIZ autolearn=no
version=3.1.7
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary=" - =_461EE3F2.49E91F2C"
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
&=_461EE3F2.49E91F2C
Content-Type: text/plain
Content-Disposition: inline
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Spam detection software, running on the system "*censored*", has
identified this incoming email as possible spam. The original message
has been attached to this so you can view it (if it isn't spam) or label
similar future email. If you have any questions, see
the administrator of that system for details.
Content preview: Hello, Due to the death of my Father General Abacha the
former head of state of Nigeria in June 1998, I have been thrown into a
state of hopelessness by the present administration. I have lost
confidence with anybody within my country. I got your contacts through
personal research, and had to reach you through this medium. I will give
you more details when you reply. Due to security network placed on my
daily affairs I cant visit the embassy so that is why I have contacted
you. My Father deposited $12.6million dollars with a security firm
abroad whose name is witheld for now till we communicate. I will be
happy if you can receive this funds and keep it safe I assure you 20% of
this fund. I will need your telephone/mobile numbers so that we can
commence communication. I await your urgent response. Yours truly,
Mustapha [...]
Content analysis details: (11.5 points, 5.0 required)
Pts rule name description
2.1 SUB_HELLO Subject starts with "Hello"
1.4 SPF_SOFTFAIL SPF: sender does not match SPF record (softfail)
[SPF failed: Please see http://www.openspf.org/why.html? [email protected]&ip=212.223.30.54&receiver=*censored*]
1.0 SUBJ_ALL_CAPS Subject is all capitals
0.4 URG_BIZ BODY: Contains urgent matter
0.0 BAYES_50 BODY: Bayesian spam probability is 40 to 60%
[score: 0.5005]
0.2 DNS_FROM_RFC_ABUSE RBL: Envelope sender in abuse. Rfc-ignorant.org
1.7 DNS_FROM_RFC_POST RBL: Envelope sender in
postmaster. Rfc-ignorant.org
3.3 ADVANCE_FEE_3 Appears to be advance fee fraud (Nigerian 419)
0.0 ADVANCE_FEE_1 Appears to be advance fee fraud (Nigerian 419)
1.4 ADVANCE_FEE_2 Appears to be advance fee fraud (Nigerian 419)
&=_461EE3F2.49E91F2C
Content-Type: message/rfc822; x-spam-type=original
Content-Description: original message before SpamAssassin
Content-Disposition: inline
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Received: from [212.223.30.54] (helo=mailgw01. Nameserver.De ident=postfix)
by *censored* with esmtp (Exim 4.63)
(envelope-from)
id 1HcB4D-0002eZ-SR
for tigerdirect@*censored*; Thu, 12 Apr 21:59: 14 -0400
Received: from localhost (localhost. Localdomain [127.0.0.1])
by mailgw01. Nameserver.De (Postfix) with ESMTP id 060A2443FF
for ; Fri, 13 Apr 03:48: 23 0200 (CEST)
Received: from mailgw01. Nameserver.De ([127.0.0.1])
by localhost (mailgw01. Mail-verteiler.De [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024)
with ESMTP id 15761-54 for ;
Fri, 13 Apr 03:48: 23 0200 (CEST)
Received: from rak-gentoo-4. Nameserver.De (unknown [212.223.91.34])
by mailgw01. Nameserver.De (Postfix) with SMTP id E42DD46154
for ; Fri, 13 Apr 02:09: 53 0200 (CEST)
Received: by rak-gentoo-4. Nameserver.De (sSMTP sendmail emulation); Fri, 13 Apr 02:10: 19 0200
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 02:10: 19 0200
To: tigerdirect@*censored*
Subject: HELLO REPLY
From: mallam musti
Reply-To: [email protected]
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Message-Id:
X-Virus-Scanned: by amavisd-new-2.3.2 (20050629) (Debian) at mail-verteiler.De
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
X-Spam-Exim: hQ2LsbPy5gF15OzA8o_icQsc
Hello,
Due to the death of my Father General Abacha the former head of state of =
Nigeria in June 1998, I have been thrown into a state of hopelessness by =
the present administration. I have lost confidence with anybody within my =
country.
I got your contacts through personal research, and had to reach you throu=
gh this medium.
I will give you more details when you reply. Due to security network plac=
ed on my daily affairs I cant visit the embassy so that is why I have con=
tacted you. My Father deposited $12.6million dollars with a security firm=
abroad whose name is witheld for now till we communicate.
I will be happy if you can receive this funds and keep it safe I assure y=
ou 20% of this fund. I will need your telephone/mobile numbers so that we=
can
commence communication. I await your urgent response.=20
Yours truly,
Mustapha
&=_461ee3f2.49e91f2c—
=
Spam #3 =
Return-path:
Envelope-to: *censored*
Delivery-date: Thu, 12 Apr 21:45: 49 -0400
Received: from jhowdyme by *censored* with local-bsmtp (Exim 4.63)
(envelope-from)
id 1HcArE-0001Mq-7y
for *censored*; Thu, 12 Apr 21:45: 49 -0400
X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.1.7 (10-05) on
*censored*
X-Spam-Level: *
X-Spam-Status: No, score=2.4 required=5.0 tests=ADVANCE_FEE_1, ADVANCE_FEE_2,
BAYES_50, SUBJ_ALL_CAPS autolearn=no version=3.1.7
Received: from [72.5.54.243] (helo=relay. Dotsterhost.com)
by *censored* with esmtps (TLSv1: AES256-SHA: 256)
(Exim 4.63)
(envelope-from)
id 1HcArE-0001Mi-1H
for tigerdirect@*censored*; Thu, 12 Apr 21:45: 48 -0400
Received: from relay. Dotsterhost.com (relay [127.0.0.1])
by relay. Dotsterhost.com (8.12.11.20060308/8.12.11) with ESMTP id l3D1kj0A019040
for ; Thu, 12 Apr 18:46: 45 -0700
Received: (from sendmail-proxy@localhost)
by relay. Dotsterhost.com (8.12.11.20060308/8.12.11/Submit) id l3D1kifJ019014;
Thu, 12 Apr 18:46: 45 -0700
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 18:46: 45 -0700
Message-Id:
Sender-ID: v2543
To: tigerdirect@*censored*
Subject: REPRESENT US IN YOUR COUNTRY
From: EYOU PETROCHEMICALS INTERNATIONAL
Reply-To: [email protected]
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
X-Antivirus: AVG for E-mail 7.1.410 [268.17.0/639]
EYOU PETROCHEMICALS
Address: 199 Taikang East Road,
Ningbo, China
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.eyou.com
Hello,
Compliments of the day, and my best wishes to you. I am Mrs. Janei
Kong, The Public Relation Officer (PRO.) of the above company. This
company
is into the supply of Petrochemical Products, Engine Parts, Stationery
and
High Furniture. This company was established in under the Company
and Allied Matter with the Corporate Affairs Commissions of China.
Having gone through a methodical search, I decided to contact you
hoping that you will find this proposal interesting. We are interested
in
employing your services to work with us as a private payment agent that
can help us establish a medium of receiving payment for goods that was
supplied to our customers in in your location, as the company is already
experiencing difficulties in receiving payments from them.
Most of our customers pay out in cheques and money orders and cach and
we do not have an account in your country that will clear this money.
It
is upon this note that we seek your assistance to stand in as our
representative in your country. It is important to let you know that,
as our representative, you will receive 10% of whatever amount you
clear
for the company and the balance will be for the company.
Please if you are interested to work with us in good faith and honesty,
Contact Mr. Juan Lee, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO.) of
this company whom is presently in the UK. Through this email address:
Email: [email protected]
Contact Person: Mr. Juan Lee (CEO EYOU PETROCHEMICALS)
Telephone: 44 703 197 28 41
Endeavor to let him know that I directed you to him; Please let him
know your decision rather than keeping him waiting because I will
inform him about my contacting you. The CEO. Will inform you more on
receipt of your response. If you are not interested, kindly pardon me
for contacting you. Thanks for your time and remain blessed.
Very Respectfully,
Mrs. Janei Kong (PRO).
EYOU PETROCHEMICALS
=
Steve
Ithaca, New York
U.S.A.
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