Re: anti-spam?

Abraham Moses Genen (futurist@frontiernet.net)
Wed, 25 Jun 1997 21:36:47 -0400


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From: Alexander 'Sasha' Chislenko <sasha1@netcom.netcom.com>
To: Extropian mailing list <extropians@extropy.org>
Subject: anti-spam?
Date: Tuesday, June 24, 1997 10:59 PM

I just received another spam - the guys are suggesting me to
send bulk email to 80,000 people for $50. Spam to distribute spams.
They give their snail-mail address and a reply form that I should
send in with a check. This is a frequently used technique that
allows spammers to avoid receiving e-mail bombs and to be able
to easily sort the replies.

Now, what if I go for it, and send out a message suggesting people
next time they get a spam with a snail-mail, to mail envelopes to the
spammer's address, containing hate notes, pieces of all kinds of dirty,
smelly, poisonous, explosive, and illegal substances, and everything
else distracting, dangerous, and unpleasant that people can think of?

Could such an "anti-spam spam" help generate enough "negative feedback"
for the spammers to stop asking for snail-mail replies? That may make
things much more difficult for them.

This suggestion doesn't require adoption of any general standards or laws.

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Alexander Chislenko <http://www.lucifer.com/~sasha/home.html>
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Dear Alexander and other fellow Extropians,

The offer you received appears at first instance to be a violation of
several existing laws.

The Attorneys General of the various states, the FTC, the SEC, the Postal
Inspector and various other agencies have a task force in place to handle
such "spam" using both criminal and civil statutes.

You may wish to print out the offer and send a copy to the Attorney
General in your state.

In most states "spam" complaints are being handled by the consumer frauds
bureau or unit in the AG's office.

If you are aware of the point of origin of the spam send it to the state
where it is originating in.

For further information contact me.

Best wishes,

A.M. Genen