Active Rain is an extremely successful social network. That's probably why most of us are involved. However, there is a sinister side to being this popular and visible. We form a ready-made calling and email list for all of the spammers, scammers, and phishers of the world.
I know of a few solicitations that have come through Active Rain with no way to trace them, I receive others very frequently that are untraceable. The favorite approach is the one, usually from some place in Africa, where I have been contacted because I have the same last name as their client (sometimes it is divulged, other times not - it's easier to send this same spam/scam - "spcam" [pronounced "spackum"] - to thousands if it is kept generic). The tip-off is their address. It always includes "MISS" or "Miss" or "Mr." or "MR." or something along these lines. Nobody that understands email ever uses that type of address when referring to themselves.
Notice also that it frequently is in all CAPS - not done in polite company - but that's part of the spcam as well. We're supposed to think that they are desparate and that this plea is urgent. Notice all of the misspellings and incorrect grammar - also a ploy.
Yesterday, I got a phone solicitation because he supposedly had noticed my profile on Active Rain and wanted to get me involved in some MLM or something along those lines. I didn't give him a chance, and I didn't hang up. I just gave him an answer to his lead-in question that wasn't on his script and he had to hang up.
It's frustrating, and slightly time consuming, but for now we'll have to endure a little bad to get the good from Active Rain. Be vigilant.
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For more information on my coaching services or sales tips visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my blog homesalesinsights.com.
Hi Steve, You're right about AR success bringing with it some unwanted attention and unwanted solicitations. Not sure if there is anything AR can do about it. I'm always amazed at how many people must fall for these scams for them to continue !
Wow, sorry you've had these bad experiences, I had the email stuff long before I started blogging, will watch to see if more comes.
I have noticed a huge increase in my spam emails. I dont know if its from here or somewhere else.
The good news is I have one the lottery several times this week. In fact just last night I won another $2,000,000 !!!!
Good bye real estate! Hello couch!
With the good, there is always bad!
I do not have too much trouble with that. Mainly Nigerian scam letter type stuff and I was getting that before. I sometimes wonder if all these SEO chop shops call because of AR.
Steve, indeed it is true, we are paying the price for exposure and success. I posted about this last week and am qually frustrated, but fortunately, we all have delete buttons.....keep the good postings. We all love it
Thanks
Bo
Every day it is happening more and more. The price of exposure, I guess.
Steve,
Thanks for the post. And yes, you are correct we need to be vigilent.
Steve,
Thanks for the post. And yes, you are correct we need to be vigilent.
Steve. I get the same kind of email and phone calls. I guess you have to take the good with the bad. Royal..
Bill,
They must get someone to fall for it or they wouldn't continue. They carefully craft their appeal so that it sounds legitmate - especially if you want it to be. They are playing upon a basic human emotion - greed.
Steve
Anna,
Thanks for your comments. I've had the spcams for a long time also, but they are getting more frequent - used to be a couple of times a month. Now almost daily - yesterday actually got 3.
Steve
Shane,
That's fantastic. Where's the party? Let us know about any additional winnings. This is great. :)
Steve
We are so lucky to we keep winning every day too! Ugh, wish we could stop the spam.
Courtney,
It's definitely too bad, but your truism is correct. Just think if all of the time and energy devoted to unscrupulous activities was actually channeled into productive pursuits.
Steve
Steve,
AR tracks very high. It's an easy target - not AR, us. I guess it's to be expected. It really is a nuisance.
Steve
Bo,
Thanks for your great comments - always look forward to them. Yes, delete is a positive action we can take.
Steve
Gary,
It is happening more and more, and most of us are aware of it and know how to spot it. It's the newer people I'm concerned about.
Steve
Rebecca,
Thanks. It's like that old adage - if it looks or sounds too ggod to be true, it probably is - no matter how much we'd like for it to be true.
Steve
Royal,
Thanks for your comments, and it sounds like you are having the same experiences as most of us. It's just something we have to live with. but we don't have to like it! :)
Steve
My email does a good job of sorting out the junk mail so it does not take much of my time to see those types of emails. Its amazing the amount of them we get.
I've been contact by them too. The more recent scams involve a person that was killed in a plane crash with the same sir name as mine. I am the only living next of kin and if I want to collect the gazillion dollars that the decedent has in a bank, I must contact these scammers immediately!
Patty and Scott,
What are you going to do with all of your winnings? Save up and maybe you can buy Microsoft or something. :)
Steve
Chuck,
My email filter works well in this regard also, and I never actually have to open them. However, I am aware of them.
Steve
Mott,
I got that one, too. I love the timeliness of some of the others. An account that has been dormant for over 5 years now has to be settled immediately! Imagine.
Steve
It's funny you mentioned that...
I happen to have a large sum of money and am looking for a partner to help me with it to get to US
Singed,
Mr. BOB
Actually, I just keep my one finger on the delete key while going through my emails. If you respond at all.... they know they have a live one. Having a Mac helps too! I think they can somehow differentiate or at least I don't get infected with anything. My wife still uses a PC and I have to run all kinds of programs each month to clean the caches and ad crap. It's a pain.
Mr. BOB,
Thanks. Love the signature. I am reviewing so many offers right now that I simply couldn't add anymore. :)
Steve
Steve - I've received some of this unwanted email myself. I haven't gotten any phone calls, though. I'm not looking forward to those... :)
Debi,
See what the price of success brings along with it? :) Hope it's not too much of a nuisance, but it isn't likely to let up or go away.
Steve
Hi Steve,
I get 10 to 20 spam emails per day. This is a good reason for every agent to have at least one backup email account. I currently use 4 email addresses. For anyone who's interested, gmail does a good job of filtering out the spam. Also, the price is right for gmail - it's free!
Respectfully,
Bruce
Bruce,
I was out of the office for about 4 hours. I just deleted 53 junk emails upon my return. I get upwards of 150 a day.
BTW, a new one is from "greetingcard.org" - I don't know what's in it but I''ve had 7 so far today. It says I have a greeting card from someone. I don't think so.
Steve
Steve
We all have a lot of information on the social websites and you're correct the scammers are out there with their bag of tricks, we have to be alert.
Good luck and success
Lou Ludwig
For additional information about Lou Ludwig go to www.LouLudwig.Com
Lou,
It seems like once we're onto their little scheme of the moment that they start something else. Stay alert is right.
Steve