Legit mail or SPAM ?

I don't get much SPAM. Due to several reasons. Put it down to not subscribing to every site using my main email account. Having an email address that is hard for spam engines to guess. Using cloaking scripts on my websites to hide / encrypt my email from spambots. We also recommend and do the same for our clients.

I put the fear of God into my clients regarding Spam; as we supply Bulk Email systems for business.

So when I do get what looks to be a legit business offer only to discover the TO: address is an obscure email address I used to use on an old website (now deleted) for my Contact us form; tells me one thing. The address was harvested.

Now to add insult to injury, the spammer, custom-outdoor-banners.com; says they abide by Australia's Spam Act 2003. They even have a link to their own interpretation of the Act here and then another link from there to the actual Spam Act here.

Guys you must be referring to Clause 4b: When consent may be inferred from publication of an electronic address: the electronic address has been conspicuously published;

Um, wrong my address has not been conspicuously published.

The email sent:

Subject: Merlinfx Pty Ltd: Did you receive the article I sent you about Outdoor Banners for retail businesses?

Message:

Hi . . .

Just thought this would be good for the Liverpool area, but not sure if you received my last email?

David.

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Original Message:

Just announced: Outdoor Banners - probably the quickest and cheapest way to boost retail walk-in trade.

It's rare to be able to spend as little as less than $100 on something that gets more potential customers through the door - yet the humble Outdoor Banner achieves this by being bright and cheerful and quick to design and order.

Outdoor Banners appeal directly to passers-by who need to take only a few steps before they're in the door, and this is the reason it's such cost-effective advertising - capturing this market can increase business turnover a little but boost profit dramatically. Next time you're out driving or walking, notice how the few businesses with outdoor banners catch your eye whilst the other shops go unnoticed.

And forget about traditional heavy $400+ banners from sign shops - now you can order a lightweight, bright outdoor banner for less than $100. And that's a full 3-metres long, printed with your design of words, and delivered free to your door.

A few mouse clicks on an innovative company's website is all it takes to see exactly how the finished banner will look. This is online design in seconds, free delivery to your door, and banner lengths from 3 to 8 metres in a range of colours.

More ideas on how to design and use outdoor banners is on a special page purely for the Retail industry at www.Custom-Outdoor-Banners.com

Or to go directly to the manufacturer's Design and Order website, go to www.Printshop.com.au

........................................................................
We abide by Australia's Spam Act 2003 (more info). - and welcome you to unsubscribe.


Bad attempt at trying to personalise the message saying did you get my previous message and this would be good for the Liverpool area. Ahh no I didn't. Nice try.

Starting with "Hi ..." Common guys stop playing amateur hour. You could have called my number on my website and asked to send me some info. I am usually pretty good with learning about new opportunities to advertise. At least send me a personalised email.

Don't insult my intelligence about complying with Australian Spam Act 2003; when clearly you have not.

I suggest you have purchased a list from someone who has harvested mail addresses from the web; sometime ago or you've done it yourself.

Can I give you a tip though. Having an Australian domain with an international phone number that I need to call overseas if I actually want to talk to someone doesn't give me much confidence. I don't care how great the price is. How about having a Chat component on the website or local number I can call?

They give the sage advice of 'a $5 discount phone card from your local convenience store will give you hours of international talk time.' I think I just had a Rove 'what the' moment!