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/0706/2003 Archived Entry: "Weird email"
I have just received an utterly bizarre email:
Word-of-Mouth.Org Report Awareness System
To add this email address to our Do Not Email List click here - http://www.Word-of-Mouth.Org/DNEL.asp?EA=stephen@samarcand.co.uk
Word-of-Mouth.Org is obligated to inform you via email (if possible) that a report has just been submitted about the person or persons associated with this email address (stephen@samarcand.co.uk). *Please find a link to the report below. The Word-of-Mouth.Org Report Awareness System will continue to inform you when and if reports regarding this email address are submitted in the future unless you add this email address to our Do Not Email List and, in doing so, agree to give up any right you may or may not have to be informed when reports are submitted in the future.
Word-of-Mouth.Org is a background research tool that allows users to access the valuable information source known as "word-of-mouth" on an International scale.
Do not reply to this email; it has been automatically generated.
Click here to view all reports in our system regarding this email address - http://www.Word-of-Mouth.Org/srea.asp?ea=stephen@samarcand.co.uk
Word-of-Mouth.Org is an online meeting place where users from around the world can perform background research on individuals and businesses using the powerful information source known as "word-of-mouth". A user that has had experience with or has opinions regarding an individual or business will submit an "Identification Report" whose purpose is only to identify the individual or business in question. Other users are then immediately able to search through and review these "Identification Reports." When an interesting report (typically regarding an individual or business that the user knows) is found by a user, he/she may then begin to communicate with the report author through our Anonymous Email System to learn the experiences and opinions of the report author regarding the report subject.
*Important! - Word-of-Mouth.Org "Identification Reports" are only for the purpose of identifying the report subject. They do not contain information additional to that which is viewable at no charge by any and all users. "Identification Reports" do not contain fields into which report authors can possibly enter any information aside from that which is for the purpose of identification. "Identification Reports" do not contain and cannot possibly contain any potentially defamatory information and "Identification Reports" are not to be construed as positive or negative.
If you decide to contact the report author through our Anonymous Email System, do so by using the links that clearly appear in each report.
For additonal information regarding how our site works please our FAQ at - http://Word-of-Mouth.Org/FAQ.asp
If you have any questions or comments please email us at - http://www.Word-of-Mouth.Org/ContactUs.asp
Legal Disclaimer: Word-of-Mouth.Org is only a meeting place for its users. Word-of-Mouth.Org has no control over the content of reports nor the actions of its users. Reports found at Word-of-Mouth.Org should not be construed as positive or negative. Use our Anonymous Email System to contact report authors and find out what they know. Each report author owns his/her reports as well as the pages on which said reports are published.
I don't have much to say about it, other than reporting the mild feeling of paranoia it has generated. Just thought I'd put it up here.
Replies: 18 comments
I'm glad I found this - I also got a notice from this place out of the blue and it freaked me out. I immediately told them I'd filed on them with the attorney general. I actually got a response. I told them that they'd better send me a link to see what's written about me - for FREE- or I'd sue the @#$@#$ out of them. I too am looking for a job, like that's not hard enough in this economy. But to have this thing over one's head, it could be ANYONE, or NO-ONE. I am also going to contact the local TV stations. This is the kinda thing they like to track down and expose. I suggest you all do the same.
Posted by DT @ 09/02/2003 12:18 PM GMT
Roger,
I found you blog while searching for further information regarding Peter Kestler. I hope you do not mind the email.
This man has added my email addy to his database and fraudlently tried to dup me into his subscription service. I am persueing legal council and am planning to file suit, and I wanted to ask if you knew of any class action suit in process.
I am rather protective of my identity and I find this to be most violating. As my career depends upon my character in life, Mr. Kestler has created several problems for me.
I very much enjoyed your blog entry and peoples responses.
I think we all should get together on this issue... Please let me know and I will create a forum and we can see what we can get done about him.
Thank you for your time.
Lee Moon
Web Design
www.CaptiveMoon.com
Posted by Lee @ 07/24/2003 01:24 PM GMT
Man...
I am GLAD I found this discussion before totally wigging out. I believe there are crazy people out there that might want to share info about other people... but hopefully, it's not as easy as just going to a website and asking some anonymous person for it.
Posted by Rosalyn @ 07/22/2003 01:09 PM GMT
Sorry folks, you got me bitten LOL
Have a look at these websites as well:
http://www.reportdatabase.com/
http://www.worldwatchdog.com/
http://www.theinternetwatchdog.com/
They all belong to the same WoM crap.
Posted by Sam @ 07/19/2003 12:03 AM GMT
Stephen,
I actually emailed this Gong asking him if he was aware the company is a scam - AND GOT A REPLY. Don't yea fall off yer chair, mate :-)Here it is:
"Dear Sam:
We regret to hear of your dissatisfication with Word-of-Mouth.Org.
Is your opinion based on your own experience with the site, or is it based off of claims by other people who never fully tried the site? We've found that people are naturally skeptical when they first approach the site, and many make claims before even trying the service. It is our job now to better communicate the site's value, and to overall do a better job to illustrate it to potential users such as yourself, since it is indeed not a "scam."
If you actually experienced a disservice of your own, please inform me of the details and I can try to have it remedied if possible.
Regards,
David"
Someone's fingers are in the pie, or what?
And hey, anyone here heard of the PHP Nuke-cops? It's an anti-hacking website and they have been digging the WoM website a bit. Have a look: http://www.nukecops.com/postp17995.html
Posted by Sam Berner @ 07/18/2003 11:41 PM GMT
Interestingly enough, their site seems to be down at the moment. Let's just hope that this is a permanent thing.
Posted by Stephen @ 07/18/2003 09:43 AM GMT
This is a fun scam indeed! I just discovered a 'press release' by a PR company proclaiming that they promoted word-of-mouth.org which started up in 2002.
According to register.com, word-of-mouth.org didn't get registered until April 2003.
Secondly, what does this particular PR company to do with it word-of-mouth.org?
Check out their press release, http://www.gongpr.com/news.xml
hmmm....!
Posted by sus @ 07/18/2003 09:26 AM GMT
In response to Sue:
The company is registered by a certain Peter Kestler in Philippines, but is hosted in USA. A law discussion list mentioned that nothing really could be done about it - I researched PK, but he doesn't seem to exist.
Maybe informing the Phillipines embassy would work?? Writing about it to the media?
Posted by Sam @ 07/18/2003 09:07 AM GMT
I too found this blog through google. I got the same email on Monday.. I happen to be in the middle of an employment negotiation, so I was _very_ freaked out by this. I searched my email address on their site and found that there were 2 reports: 1 person offering info (a month ago), and 1 person seeking it (monday).
Problem is: I do not ever recall being notified about the first report. That's what makes it so suspicious.
Glad I found this site and the link to urban legends. Does anyone know which state this site is based in? I'd like to notify their state attorney general's office
Posted by Patrick @ 06/27/2003 03:17 PM GMT
One interesting, and pleasing, piece of information to come out of this saga is that you posted this on 7 June and by 13 June cc had found this on Google. That's under a week!
Posted by Roger Cornwell @ 06/19/2003 08:42 AM GMT
Can't we report this group to the BBB or something? I almost fell for it, too, until I did a little more research just now.
Posted by Jo @ 06/17/2003 02:03 PM GMT
I knew it !! The ghastly pages should have told me..words like "profer"..you just wouldn't use them would you? If it isn't unfortunate people from Africa with 30 Billion dollars and no bank account, to shift..it's this lot.Thank goodness for JUNK filters.
Posted by paul @ 06/16/2003 12:50 PM GMT
Well, I was scammed. It is definitely not a legitimate site and I am a sucker who paid the $19.99 to find out what was posted. Of course, there was nothing. And then after investigating, I found out that they sent this email to other people's private email addresses (meaning email addresses that they don't give out) They denied my request for a refund. If you fell for this or know anyone else who did, please email me. Also, who should I report this to so I can take action to get my money back?
Posted by sue @ 06/15/2003 02:07 PM GMT
This is a scam - check out Urban Legends at http://www.snopes.com/computer/internet/wordofmouth.asp for a full description.
Posted by David @ 06/15/2003 02:06 PM GMT
Hi,
I just received a freaky email from these poeple also and like I said it freaked me out. I seem to find stalkers so I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about this site and could share it?
o, I found you through google.com, just want everyone to know that.
thanks
cc
Posted by cc @ 06/13/2003 05:55 PM GMT
Roger - Yep, I came to the same conclusion tonight. And I also went to the same site you did that held it as a scam before I came here. Mine said the same thing as the one on this site (when I went to his) .. social, last five years, etc. etc.
Posted by Chris @ 06/12/2003 09:32 AM GMT
Perhaps I should add that www.word-of-mouth.org.uk looks like it's not only a legit organisation "Word of Mouth offers you the chance to talk to other readers about books you've loved, books you've hated, books you found heavy-going - in fact, whatever you've been reading, other readers will love to hear about it." but also one we might wish to join to suggest our favourite authors.
Posted by me again @ 06/07/2003 04:14 PM GMT
Yes, I had two of these, and I came to the conclusion that they didn't actually have a "report" on me. If you want to email the author of the alleged report it will cost you $19.97 for an annual subscription to them.
There's a story on the Ziffdavis Security SuperSite entitled How Low Can You Go? New Community Web Site Is Doing You No Favors (which says "And according to posters on the news.admin.net-abuse.e-mail newsgroup, if you actually contact the author you will be told that they can't seem to locate any of the reports they may have filed on you. Oops. Since it's an anonymous system they can tell you whatever they want."
Posted by Roger Cornwell @ 06/07/2003 04:06 PM GMT