Market My Novel

Last week, I ventured into one of the many groups I belong to, hoping to find some great conversation. What I found in one of the digests was a lengthy SPAM message a member decided to share with the rest of the group.

The problem?

I don't think the poster knew it was SPAM.

Shared on this forum was an e-mail petition, begging for signatures for whatever that particular scam was. And trust me when I say it is a scam. e-mail petitions are not valid. They are simply a way for spammers to get your name and e-mail address – and sometimes personal information like birthdates or pet names – that help them steal your identity. Some of these e-mails have invisible tenticles attached to the spammers computer so they can make themselves at home in your supposedly secure dwelling.

On this forum, this person had presented the names and e-mails of scores of people. If I were a nefarious type of person, I would have copied each and every e-mail into my Contact List and immediately started sending messages about terrific enhancement products, or fake news about politicians I dislike with intensity. Or I could just pitch my Web site to them. I'm quite certain those 20 e-mails a day would immediately endear me to them – NOT.

The only valid petitions are done through Web sites that create and implement petitions – like PetitionOnline.com – or through a legitimate organization Web site – like a charity site collecting names for an important grassroots movement. The effectiveness of the petitions depend on the petitions themselves and the target audience.

Here are some great resources to check out regarding e-mail petitions and e-mail hoaxes:

Kim Komando (Best article I've seen in a while)

 Network Startup Resource Center