The following spam was recently sent to nearly all of my websites with the same message but different subjects and contact info. I especially like how they emphasize their "white hat" services even though they are spamming the hell out of people. Oh, and if you want to pretend the email wasn't an automated email (or a lazy copy-paste email), you should at least refer to the website you're contacting rather than asking for that information in a reply. Also, it may help if you include at least some sort of company information - especially when each message comes from a different name and email address.

We would like to get your website on first page of Google. All of our processes use the most ethical "white hat" Search Engine Optimization techniques that will not get your website banned or penalized. Please reply and I would be happy to send you a proposal. In order for us to respond to your request for information, please include your company’s website address (mandatory) and or phone number.

Today marks the beginning of a new feature here on Net Morality... the Spam of the Week. These posts will contain actual spam I have received as email, contact form submissions, and blog comments from the various websites I operate. This week's spam is an ironic one considering it is an email scam that tries to convince you that you are being rewarded money for being a victim of email scams. Of course, the email is wrought with various grammar and spelling mistakes that quickly let the air out of the "officialness" the scammer is trying to go for.

Economic Community Of West African States.
***************
***************
***************
FRAUD VICTIMS/$1,250,000
OUR REF: 10667FV
YOUR REF: 890

Good Day

I write to bring to your notice as a delegate from the Economic Community Of West African States Reimbursement committee under the strict supervision of the World Bank, the IMF under the supervision of the United Nation has compelled Economic Community Of West African States to compensate the victims of their financial scam before the region will be enlisted for grant from the fund set aside by the United Nations to cushion the effect of the world global melt down on the third world countries after the meeting of the G8 at London this year.

You are however listed as one of the beneficiaries for these payments. You are expected to get back to us for your immediate reimbursement as one of the Ten Thousand African 419 scam victims, the sum of $1,250,000 USD (ONE MILLION Two
Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars Only) has been approved for each.

As a result of this laudable recommendations, you are hereby informed that during the last U.N. meeting the World Bank through the Ecowas Office is expected to fast track an initial $2 billion of the $5 billion made available for scam victims, it was alarmed so much by the rest of the world on the lose of funds by various foreigners British/USA citizens and Malaysia,Etc to the scam artists operating in syndicates all over the world today.

In other to redeem the good image of our African region, the Council of former Head Of states has ordered the immediate payment of $1,250,000 USD each to the affected victims in accordance with the U.N. recommendations. Due to the corrupt and inefficient Banking Systems in Africa, these payments are to be made by BARCLAYS BANK PLC, UK.

Presently, Two Thousand Five Hundred Beneficiaries have been paid, more than 50% of the Victims are from the United States, while about 40% are from other parts of the world.

Your particulars were among those mentioned by some of the Syndicates that was apprehended in Lagos Nigeria as one of the victims of the operations, you are hereby warned not to communicate or duplicate this message to anybody for any reason whatsoever as the U.S. secret service in conjunction with The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has swage into action to track this criminals down. Once again, you are expected to keep it secret until these criminals are all apprehended.

As regards these on going developmental strive; we have over 200 suspects at hand, 135 in kirikri prisons. While many are awaiting trial, we are still in search of others, who think they are wise, and hope that you will assist by giving any vital information that could lead to the apprehension of these hoodlums.

Confirm through this Email Attention Mr. Nuhu James if you are the true possessor of this email, and provide us with your details & how much you lost.

NAME IN FULL......................
YOUR CELL NUMBER.NA.....................
CONTACT ADDRESS..................NOT P.O BOX

Note your early response to this development will be appreciated.

Yours truly,
Mr Nuhu James
Secretary to the Ecowas.

With a new administration in the White House, new ideas and political views are brought to the forefront. While health care, the economy, the war on terror, and a multitude of other topics are constantly being debated, another far-reaching issue has had a fairly significant turn of events - net neutrality.

For the uninitiated, net neutrality is the concept that networks should not restrict access to any sites or content while also dealing with the notion that fees should not change based on usage. For a more in depth explanation, there's always Wikipedia's definition.

Discussions of net neutrality have been around for awhile (especially with many ISPs changing their policies to go against net neutrality), but a new statement by FCC chairman Julius Genachowski may stir up the neutrality debate once more. With Genachowski's comments being a declaration of support for and enforcement of net neutrality, we may start seeing those cable companies changing their policies back to what they once were.
continue reading...

It's tough finding an audience for a new product or service on the internet - especially with the sheer amount of noise found on the Web these days. For some, the daunting task of launching something new online means hiring a PR firm to handle the marketing side of things. While most PR firms are ethical in their practices, some have taken the "easy route" when it comes to online marketing. One of the shadier tactics that's starting to rear its ugly head more and more is something called astroturfing.

Astroturfing is basically the process of getting some people together to advocate whatever you are pushing (such as a product, a message, or a candidate for office). While the concept is not new and has been used before the internet came along, the simple fact is that creating fake reviews, testimonials, and word of mouth online is cheaper and easier than it has ever been before. Take for example Reverb Communications, a company that appears to be heavily into the astroturfing game.
continue reading...

Amazon did something very scary last week - they removed legally purchased eBooks from Kindles. Sure, it doesn't sound that bad on the surface, but it could set a precedent that no Web consumer should stand for - the right of companies to remove digitally downloaded products from consumer devices at a later date.

Imagine if all companies that sold digital products could just reach into your computer and remove music, games, movies, pictures, software, and anything else they want to, whenever they want to. Seems a little far fetched doesn't it? Well, Amazon did just that with their Kindles and many speculate Apple may do just such a thing with their iPhones some day. Amazon could do this for all of their digital products from eBooks and software to music and movies. If a movie studio decides they don't want their movies for sale on Amazon anymore, does that mean Amazon is going to remove all those movies from anybody who has already purchased and downloaded the movies?

Apparently many are saying it's completely legal for Amazon to do what they've done, though it's mind boggling to see how that can be the case. Sure, they are going to refund the money, but how does that make it okay? If I went into Best Buy and bought a movie, does that mean Best Buy could just come into my house and take back the movie if the movie's publisher decides they don't want to have their movies in Best Buy anymore? Nobody would stand for that, so how can we stand for Amazon doing basically the exact same thing with digital books?

Thankfully the Web is up in arms over the whole ordeal, and Amazon has even admitted it was a stupid thing to do, promising they won't do it again. While that all sounds good on paper, it doesn't really get the bitter taste out of my mouth.