do you get random emails...

[JMT]

do you ever receive emails from companies thanking you for being a "valued customer" even though you never bought anything from them?

i just got an email from buick. ive never owned a buick in my life. also got one from dell once thanking me for my recent pc purchase, which i did not buy.

[LeVeL]

Thats the world of email marketing for ya, now in days companies are using this applications which allow's them to get their hands on your email without you ever giving it to them.

Yet by you giving out your email address to say Bellsouth Fast Access or Comcast. Or for example your applying for a Credit card like AMEX or Visa by you giving out your email it automatically adds you to list of endless emails.

Its like having your phone number in the Yellow Pages now your email is just as important if not even mor eimportant because companies no longer have to call you to get your attention they can just email you.

Things are no longer private liek they used to be.

[coach]

Phishing, baby.

Anybody need an enlarged penis? I can certainly hook you up with any number of "reputable" companies.

[JMT]

i get those crappy solicitations the time, but im talking about emails from reputable companies. the emails from buick and dell looked pretty legit. however, i have never bought anything from them, so they had no reason to thank me for purchasing anything.

[lulamishka]

Originally Posted by JMT

i get those crappy solicitations the time, but im talking about emails from reputable companies. the emails from buick and dell looked pretty legit. however, i have never bought anything from them, so they had no reason to thank me for purchasing anything.

Did the e-mails ask for you to reply somehow by clicking somewhere? Some of them look quite reputable until you click on the return link and see that the web address didn't originate from Dell.com or Buick.com, etc.

For example, I get a lot similar e-mails from Ebay and Paypal, or rather, from who I thought was Ebay and Paypal. Now, I just delete them. But I remember one time I got one that looked SOO legit until I actually clicked on the return link... then I realized & closed outta there.

[rhythmburn]

if you give me your bank account information, i will transfer to you 43 million dollars left behind by my uncle in nigeria who was recently murdered...

[JMT]

Originally Posted by lulamishka

[quote author=JMT link=board=6;threadid=27490;start=0#msg318984 date=1146079991]
i get those crappy solicitations the time, but im talking about emails from reputable companies. the emails from buick and dell looked pretty legit. however, i have never bought anything from them, so they had no reason to thank me for purchasing anything.

Did the e-mails ask for you to reply somehow by clicking somewhere? Some of them look quite reputable until you click on the return link and see that the web address didn't originate from Dell.com or Buick.com, etc.[/quote]

i also get those from time to time, and like you said, you can always tell they are bogus by looking at the phony address. also they usually have spelling mistakes.

this is the email i got from buick:

Subject: News from Buick
Date: 4/25/2006 6:10:42 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
From: Your_Buick_Team@email.buick.com

Dear John,

We hope you're enjoying your Buick. To help broaden your ownership experience, we thought you might take interest in My Buick, our complimentary online newsletter. Each edition will be e-mailed to you periodically and will contain a variety of articles and news stories that we think you may like. It will surely enhance the journey you're embarking on with Buick.

Sincerely,
Your Buick Team

Buick | Customer Assistance Center | 1-800-521-7300

You are receiving this e-mail advertisement as a valued Buick owner. If you wish to unsubscribe from these Buick Owner e-mails, please unsubscribe here.

If you prefer not to receive any unsolicited marketing e-mails regarding GM® vehicles, please opt out here.

General Motors Corporation | 100 Renaissance Center | 482-A00-MAR | Detroit, MI 48265 |
GM Privacy Statement | Copyright and Trademark Information

[lulamishka]

Wow, that's really weird. Looks totally legit to me. And they're not asking you to click anywhere.

How the hell did they get your info??

(Hopefully the opt-out link isn't where they get ya!)

[lulamishka]

Perhaps someone else is passing themselves off as you! An imposter JMT! :P

[Slide On The Ice]

I've read about that kind of hook and bait. Don't hit the Opt Out, it only verifies to them that you received their spam and they got the right address. Just delete them when they come in, or put a block on their email address.