Paradoxx said:Thanks for the response "Kitrina" and "digelt". Using an old, disconnected number is pretty neat. Unfortunately I've had the same phone number for more than nine years so I can't do that. The number I posted above leads to a message so whomever is calling will know right away it's not real. I also never under any circumstances post my cell number.

Using a different name or not is really your choice. As I said, for me it's another level of protection. I've been signing up for stuff for a long time with an alias without any problems. Since the mailman in my area is a buddy of mine, he eventually wanted to know who the heck the guy getting all the mail and packages at my address was. When I explained to him, he had a good laugh but agreed that there is nothing wrong with it. He mentioned that unless a package or letter is certified one way or another and they have to see an ID to release it, on all other mail, the name on the envelope means nothing to them. They usually deliver mail by address alone.

Strangely enough, I have never had any problems with receiving spam in my email until last week when I completed one of them surveys on my WalMart receipt. Supposedly, I'd get a chance to win a $1000 WalMart Gift Card or some shit. In less than 24hrs I went from 2 new email messages in my mailbox to 108. Been unsubscribing from them the whole week. Really pissed me off. Needless to say, I've been buying my Nutty Bars from Giant this week. What assholes...

Regarding your other post: I have to question your claim that a book club would just start sending you random book shipments out of the blue. I highly doubt that the club would just throw away money sending books to someone who didn't ask for them and had no intention on paying for them. I'm sure you signed up for a free offer and never cancelled it.

Regarding this post and your other post: Glad you have an opinion, and you're entitled to it. But is it absolutely necessary to use profanity to try to get your point across?

Paradoxx said:Using a different name or not is really your choice. As I said, for me it's another level of protection. I've been signing up for stuff for a long time with an alias without any problems.

I neither agree or disagree with that your opinion, but using a pseudonym instead of your real name, can cause problems with reception of goods. The USPS can elect to not deliver items where the name does not match address, especially items sent by bulk mail services, such as feeebies. I know this to be true, because the local USPS donates all of the undeliverable freebies to the local Pregnancy Center. I helped my mom on several ocassions, with removing baby freebies and toiletries from packaging, that were marked undeliverable because the person no longer resided at that address. We made 'new mom' kits out of these, and gave them to the pregnant clients when they had their babies. Do this at your own risk.

ETA; I am on the 'do not call', no junk mail, and 'no credit offers' lists. I don't hear from telemarketers trying to sell me stuff, and even if a company buys a marketing list with my NAZ on it, they can't use it because I am on the 'no junk mail' list. I rarely have anybody not honor that list. Same with the credit offers. As for spam, my email program does a fairly good job filtering it to a junk mail folder, and I can add to the list anything that slips through. I skim it daily for any possible legitimate emails that might have ended up there, put those on my 'safe' list, and permanently delete the rest. I personally haven't seen a need to falsify information, when it comes to most sign-up offers, as I haven't had problems.

Websites good and bad, have your information. It is up to you to read the privacy policies and decide whether you want to risk providing NAZ, email and phone #. Legitimate companies often give you option as to how your info is shared, you can click boxes limiting it to the freebie offerer, or to the corporation behind the freebies, or to selected partners of the corporation. Limiting it to the freebie only cuts down on unwanted emails. If you have questions, I posted previously regarding doing Whois searches and advice Mumzof2 and I gave regarding fake sites. Another poster C&P my Whois info in the "Quick Summary' right under the OP.

This thread is more about protecting you from wasting your time posting and signing-up for freebies that have a track record of not coming, and then turn around and spam you from their affiliates with truly unwanted stuff. The sexual enhancers, porn, dating/social networking sites, pharmaceuticals, supplements, get-rich-quick schemes, pyramid schemes, free smileys/emoticons, work-at-home schemes, etc. Along with whatever spyware, adware, malware, toolbars, trojans, and heaven-knows-whatever-else comes in your inbox. In addition to avoiding these websites, everyone should have email scanners and appropriate firewalls, anti-viral and anti-spam software. Some are part of a service you have, others you must install on your own. The Computers forum has lots of information in the stickies at the top on protecting yourself, so visit there if you are looking for a particular program. For example; MY MSN email uses MCaffee email scan, I use Mailwasher and Trend-Micro on my Verizon account through Outlook Express and Windows Live. This greatly reduces unwanted spam, and the infected files they may carry with them.

Regarding Verisign, and a few others that might fall in this category of legitimate company that send few freebies, but is persistant with sales pitches. Since the main topic of the thread is about sites to avoid, why not have a sub-topic in the list of sites where caution is urged. I really think, based on the fact that several have received freebies from them, that Verisign doesn't belong in a 'do not post list'. This company agressively markets their services, and the freebies are incentives to get your business. You gave information and agreed to contact from them. So, of course they are going to call, email, whatever; they are a business selling a service, and when you requested the freebie, you requested information on their product/service.

digelt said:Eh, if you guys mostly seem to be saying that verisign should come off, I'll take it off. I don't know if I want to start getting into levels of how much a freebie may or may not suck. I'd rather stick to what absolutely doesn't come for anyone.

I'm open to suggestion, though - I mean this thread is more about being a useful tool than about what I do or don't want. So if anyone else wants to chime in on the topic, feel free.

I just don't feel that Verisign fits in with the others. The sub-category was a compromise, if you intend to list it. I don't equate them with being spammers or scammers, just very agressive marketers who dangle a limited number of nice trinkets to garner business. It isn't a site to avoid, but one should exercise caution. If you want to stick with the original topic, then Verisign doesn't fit. I can understand that if you start categorizing things, it opens a Pandora's box. I think your last comment sums up what should go here, " I'd rather stick to what absolutely doesn't come for anyone." Members can post disclaimers/warnings in threads for freebies from Verisign, when they are posted, which makes more sense to me than putting them on a "Do not post" list. What does the majority want? Give it a few days, and see who weighs in, and with what. Things can always be added and removed according to user feedback.

Kitrina said:I don't ever provide my real phone number, I use my old number which is disconnected (so I don't cause someone else to receive all kinds of phone calls). I've always provided my real name though. I'm not sure, yet, what I think about providing a false name. I'll think about it.

Eventually your old number will be recycled by the phone company and given to a new customer. And that person will wonder what is going on.

quality health is a great spammer.

cbtarai said:just wanted to thank you for posting. I had like 80 viruses and most came from these sites.

That's bad! How is your PC protection? While these sites can infect you with various unwanted program downloads, you should have good security that would have prevented much of it. While you are exploring FW forums, if you havn't already, do visit the Computer forum and read the stickies. You might find something useful to help you prevent getting that many viruses. There are experienced tech geeks who can advise you too.

Paradoxx said:While I certainly agree with having a list of unlegit sites for easy reference, on a personal level, one can take it a step further:

To protect your identities, why not give out a fictional name, phone # and email address when completing freebie forms?

Because it is a Federal felony according to US CODE:

Title 18, 1343. Fraud by wire, radio, or television

Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any writings, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If the violation affects a financial institution, such person shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.

I'm thinking you should add Holidaysathome.com! By looks of the comments in my thread below, they're looking pretty shady!

LINK

SweetClover said:Leatherface00 said:I'm thinking you should add Holidaysathome.com! By looks of the comments in my thread below, they're looking pretty shady!

LINK


Oh yes, another that never comes. Since you are the OP of the thread, consider removing the link. I did this in the thread I started for Post-Its from Digilake, once I found out they were fake.

Done

Another pointed out in a thread, mailfinity.net