Klarinet Archive - Posting 000516.txt from 1998/07

From: "Arnold Teres" <johnathant@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Junk mail - what you can do
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 1998 23:00:00 -0400

This is not a clarinet related posting - so if you don't want to be part of
the battle against junk e-mail please skip on by.
There are a few effective, ethical, and appropriate tactics that can, in
time, reduce the problem of junk e-mail. If the junk mailer is known you can
complain to your ISP. The infamous "spam king" who ran cyber-productions is
no longer on the net because no ISP will sell him access due to frequent
complaints.
You can also write to your congressmen and urge passage of regulations
requiring "no-mail" lists similar to the regulations already in place
regarding telephone sales and paper mail. These regulations require
distributors to maintain blacklists and the penalties for not providing the
service are significant.
There are other, more radical tactics, but they require a diligent effort
and a willingness to go to court. Basically, you purchase a product from the
e-mailer and write a contract on the back of a check used in payment. The
contract states that by depositing the check the mailer agrees that any
further mailing represent real damages of $1000 per mailing. After the check
clears you keep all mailings and after a while sue for damages. This tactic
has been used against paper mailers with good results. As long as you are
reasonable you stand a very good chance of a big settlement. The case that
established this tactic won $20,000 for 100 mailings - well below the
contracted damages but big enough to send an effective message.
If you receive chain e-mail pyramid schemes or e-mail with phony return
addresses your options are more limited. I have sent mail to the addresses
in the chain advising them that such schemes are violations of federal law
and that I have forwarded THEIR addresses to local and federal prosecutors.
If you adopt this tactic don't bluff - do it. I have and the results have
been quite rewarding - I received several apologies from participants who
simply did not realize that they were involved in Ponzi schemes and a few
disclaimers from lawyers apparently trying to protect their clients from
investigation and prosecution. I also have not received a single pyramid
scheme e-mailing in more than 18 months. The schemes are still there but I'm
not on anyone's "sucker list" any more.
One thing you should not do is attempt to "counter attack" with your own
large volume spamming. This simply adds to the problem and confirms your
address to the mailer.

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