Same SPAM different channel

In my previous post, I spoke about SPAM in some generalities. I also have been contemplating the use or rather the misuse of other businesses names for nefarious purposes.



UPS is the name of a real business, with a brand loyalty and trademarks and copyrights. They own the name UNITED PARCEL SERVICES and UPS. Most Americans would be able to describe the logo and the tag lines. My 4 year certainly can.

The same applies to E*Bay, PayPal, Bank of America and the countless other SPAM emails I have gotten purporting to be any one of these businesses, all trying to fleece me.

The concept is PHISHING. They all operate on the idea, that they can get you to "verify" your information, via a form, thus allowing the SPAMMER to capture your data and steal your identity or gain access to your accounts. It works or people would not do it. Some of these schemes are very slickly executed, they have the logos down pat and the emails look very legitimate. Others are clearly sloppy in execution and are easy to spot.

Fraud is illegal and that I think is normally what people try to enforce, but I wonder, can't the E*Bay's and UPS's go after these SPAMMERS? Can't they go after them for misuse of their brand and trademarked logos and property.

I am not certain it is worth the effort, but I have to think that company's have a vest interest in protecting their customer and their brand identity. I would be hopping made if some SPAMMER stole my logo and business name to commit criminal actions. It is my reputation and my business identity. Something I carefully crafted and designed and take much pride in. I would not want to see that misused.

The reality it Internet marketing makes sense. It is cheaper, email is greener than snail mail and the Internet allows a business to target certain markets, very narrow markets. I am not of the mind that all unsolicited email is SPAM. I am of a mind that fraud is fraud and it should be stopped. I may not want to read about Big Bob's Big Box stores weekly sales, but I can delete that easily, without batting an eye. I am more concerned that Big Bob's name might be used by a gang of thieves bent on stealing from people. That kind of SPAM has no business being part of the commerce pie. We ought to be able to stop it.

For a list of many articles on SPAM and the evolution of internet junk mail, surf over here.