CELL PHONE SPAMS-CORPORATE ETHICS VS PROFITS

Cell phone Spams - Corporate Ethics vs Profits

Cell-phone spam:

Cell-phone spam still trails computer spam, with the typical cell-phone user receiving at most a few spam text messages per year rather than the thousands that may bombard their computer-based e-mail accounts. But in some ways, cell spam is more annoying. It can cause your phone to ring or vibrate at inopportune times and possibly cost you money—typically 10 to 25 cents per message if you don’t have a text-messaging plan.

                           Since 2005, the CAN-SPAM Act (Controlling the Assault on Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing) has prohibited commercial e-mail and text messages to be sent to cell phones without “express prior authorization.” Unfortunately, the law leaves commercial entities lots of loopholes.

          For example, it doesn’t prevent your carrier or its partners from sending you upgrade offers or account notices. Also, non-commercial organizations such as charities and political campaigns can shoot you all the messages they want on your dime.                                                                                                                          Spending several hours a day with a fax machine at your elbow is usually not an annoying situation, provided that you are the only person in the office and that the only time you ever receive a fax is when it’s spam. Usually there is a removal number on junk faxes that you can call to get off their mailing list.

                                        Over the past few months, however, I have been getting a certain kind of fax spam here that does not have a removal number. What’s strange, though, is that I can’t figure out what the business model of the spammer is, because the company whose stock is being promoted has publicly denounced the spam and they are the victim of a third party spammer.                                                                                                                            Free or inexpensive ringtones and games from third-party vendors may be tempting. But each such download may unwittingly put you at risk of spam messages or other headaches, such as fraudulent charges and identity theft. The bottom line announced today that it has come to the attention of the Company that it is currently the victim of third-party stock spammers.

                                 As of July 14th, third-party spammers disseminated an untold number of spam emails promoting the company without the company’s knowledge. The Company did not send or authorize any such messages nor did it authorize any of the parties disseminating such information