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January 01, 2005

You have certainly seen spam disclaimers that say you received the message because you had signed up somewhere before.

The ones that really get me are like one I received today (specific identities disguised):

You have received this advertisement because you signed up to receive offers from foo_bar.com and/or through one of our affiliate partners. You signed up at www.another_foo_bar.com on 12/4/2003 20:16:00 with the following IP address 142.179.53.xxx.

Spam Wars readers know full well my feelings about "partners." According to this message, I supplied my email address while connected to the Internet at the IP address shown. I believe this disclaimer is intended to impress and/or intimidate me into believing that it must be true because it has all kinds of technical stuff associated with it. But a quick check of the address shows it to be in Calgary, Alberta. The last time I was in Canada (Montreal) was 1988. And I don't dial into the Internet from California by way of Calgary.

This kind of deception should be outlawed. It's more evidence supporting Spam Rule #1: Spammers Lie.