Privacy Issue with Directory Mailing

I discovered something today that I thought I would bring to everyones attention and also get some feedback from other directory owners on it.

I received an email today from KingCobraDirectory.com promoting something I won't bother relaying. Apparently I have a link in the directory.

So I hit reply on the email as I sometimes do to see how it was sent....

To my surprise every email address that advertisement was sent to showed up in the reply copy. Obviously the sender did not use a blind CC option or some other way of hiding the email addresses.

What I find alarming about this is my email address and hundreds of others were sent out enmass to every recipient on that email who can now spam us...

I don't neccessarily mind the occasional promotion from a directory I have submitted to, but to send my email address to hundreds of others so they can also spam me violates my privacy and is completely un professional.... At least in my opinion.

I post this as a warning to anyone considering submitting to KingCobraDirectory.com - and also to get feedback from others here on this practice.

Maybe the owner will show up on this thread.

 

omfg... I signed into DP right now just to do a search to find out who the fk this moron is:
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=808079&highlight=kingcobradirectory.com

did you hit the 'reply' to opt out and see all of the friggen emails too?

man this pissed me off!

 

That is exactly what I did an0n and included a nice little message in the email along with it.

 

yea, here is mine:

obviously the *'s are being used since this is an open forum.

 

It's a straight up CAN-SPAM violation. If motivated, you can easily have his domain suspended.

 

After some searching I may have found the owner

 

What a brainiac! Here most of us worry about directory owners selling their email lists and this fool simply gave it away. Unbelievable.

I say report him. I just can't imagine anyone making that kind of mistake anymore. Even our little homeowner's association newsletter is smart enough to not do that.

 

To all:
I'd like to start by saying this is my first and only directory. I've been working hard to promote it correctly. I had made a previous thread asking for help to extract the emails in my directory that were submitted along with the links. I didn't receive an overwhelming # of responses so I decided to try it on my own. I used gmail to send a simple 50% off links promotion I created to businesses that already had links on my directory, so they knew what was going on. I hadn't found a clear way of sending those businesses a promotion from the emails they submitted under their own will. I didn't know that the emails wound show up on the receiving end. For that I apologize and I hope no foul has come from my simple mistake. I meant no harm to anyone or any business. I have always practiced an honest and clean business.

 

Your concerned with reporting me, report yourselves. WOW, that's very proffessional!!! People make mistakes. Other people who have nothing else better to do than sit on the computer with no life and bash others who never intended on doing any harm. Way to go crazy for no reason. Your emails were never sold nore given to anyone. I have never done anything unprofessional or tried to scam anyone. I offer an honest business at a market rate.

I'd like to thank all users who used bad language as it apparently is a sign of your intelligence. I guess you couldn't think of any sophisticated words to use. The ball is in your court!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Gritz I think you should have stopped after your first post.... I was feeling better about you until I read this one.

You DID give our emails to others. Everyone in that list received them. It does not matter if they were all listed on your directory or not. You have no right to disclose that information to others. I don't see any warning on your submissions page saying that by submitting I authorized you to give out my email address to others...

You violated the privacy of everyone you sent an email to which is not acting in a professional manner nor is it honest. imo

 

Shocking, just shows how easily they are spread.

 

I don't intend to support anyone here, but lemme tell one thing. When you submit to a directory be it free or paid, you obviously agree to the sites policy.

Policy here can be amended anytime, which can include that you agree that the site owner can send you email/business promotions offers/newsletters.

So if you submit your email address to a directory, one must understand every directory owner may have different policy.

So why create a BIG issue here? Stop using your personal/business/commercial id's for submissions if you are so concerned about your privacy getting disturbed at your inbox.

 

Best to just drop the issue Gritz. You apologized and learned from this experience. Mistakes happen....

Now I'd really like to find the b@stard directory that sold my submission email to viagra spammers. Even though it's a disposable addy, I still would like to find out which directory is selling emails to spammers... 5 viagra spams from that account is enough 4 me.

 

the reasons for using a free email account for any submissions are even more obvious when stuff like this happens

 

Yes, I am surprised that some directory submitters and owners don't know to use a junk free email address when registering, so even if they do send you some junk, it is no big deal. I usually create an email just for directory submissions, and would never use my main, personal address. People are always looking to make a quick buck, so it is always wise to protect yourself in case your addy does get around. I think there is a lesson here that everyone can learn from.

And by the way Gritz, don't let it get you down and keep up the work on your directory. Everyone makes mistakes, just make sure you can learn from it and improve your directory because of it.

 

Gritz. I was pi..ed this morning when your email hit my box, but I do appreciate your honesty. What is disturbing to me that in the second post your arrogance started to show. You have to understand that your mistake caused exposure to many emails addresses that can be used in unethical manner. As a directory owner you should be aware of spam and tons of uninvited emails. At this point your promotion caused more problems than benefit to your business. In the future you may want to consider other promotional methods, which will cause less damage to your credibility. Enough of this bashing for now. If your truly need help promoting you site I will offer you free advertisement spot for 60 days. PM your 125x125 banner and I will hook you up. It is one time offer not available to anybody else.