For
Release: February
12, 2004
Sham Site Is a Scam:
There Is No “National Do Not E-mail Registry”
Have you submitted your e-mail address
to a “National Do Not E-mail Registry” that promises
to reduce the amount of spam (unsolicited e-mail) you receive?
If so, you are the victim of a scam, according to the Federal
Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency.
The Web site at “unsub.us”
mimics the language, look, and navigation of the Web site
for the National Do Not Call Registry, a legitimate free service
of the federal government. The unsub.us site is not
run or authorized by the FTC.
The FTC is concerned that the “unsub.us”site
could be part of a high-tech scam that uses a deceptive Web
site to trick consumers into disclosing their e-mail address
or other sensitive personal information. This site may be
a ruse to collect valid e-mail addresses to sell to spammers.
The result could be even more spam for consumers who sign
up for this “registry.” Or it may be even worse
– some scammers have collected information through bogus
web sites like this one that mimic those of legitimate organizations,
and then used the information to commit identity theft.
The FTC is advising consumers not to submit
their e-mail addresses or any other personal information to
any site claiming to be a “National Do Not E-mail Registry.”
The agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection says the
best way to avoid scams like this one is to keep your personal
information to yourself – including your e-mail address
– unless you know who you’re dealing with.
Should you get an e-mail claiming to represent
a “Do Not E-mail Registry,” an organization to
stop spam, or even the FTC itself, report it to the FTC at
www.ftc.gov
or 1-877-FTC-HELP. If you believe you have already been scammed,
file your complaint at www.ftc.gov,
then click on www.ftc.gov/idtheft
to learn how to minimize your risk of damage from identity
theft.
The FTC is studying the feasibility of
creating a National Do Not Spam Registry, and will issue a
report in June 2004. At this time, there is no legitimate
“National Do Not E-mail Registry.”
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent
fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the
marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot,
stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint, or to get free
information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free,
1-877-FTC-HELP (1 877-382-4357), or use the complaint form
at www.ftc.gov.
The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and
other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure,
online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal
law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2180
(http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/01/spamcam.htm)
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