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220 max.madplus.com ESMTP Merak 7.4.5; Wed, 18 May 2005 12:11:27 -0400 quitSame registrant also owns gmbdream. com and uses the company nameof "GMB Direct".
Thanks Paul. Does any of this help inform us about how spammy this critter is?
Jeff C.
Don't harm innocent bystanders.
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There is the quick results from a Goggle search which shows that "GMB Direct" runs a group of "email marketeering" companies/domains/sites which vary in published policies.
A short list (just from the first few Google hits) include:
**** First a few "general" hits **** Email Results: Permission Email Marketing Resources for Advertisers www.emailresults.com/directory_ category.asp?CategoryID=4027
GMBDirect - Contact us www.gmbdirect.com/en/contacts/
GMBDirect - About opt-in marketing www.gmbdirect.com/en/marketing/
**** The first "really suspicious one" **** ... Bulk direct e-mail marketing services available through our partners GMB Direct. ... +Direct E-mail Marketing with our partners at GMB Direct. ... www.flashcap.com/Main%20Site/ Services/Params/menu/100/default.aspx
**** Some "clear" slime **** Sweeps-US.com - About Us ... COM is one of the family of Web sites owned and operated by GMB DIRECT. Founded in 1998, GMB DIRECT is a leader within the online marketing industry. ... sweeps-us.com/aboutus/
**** Uh-Oh - an "affiliate" program **** Welcome to GMBDirect Affiliate Network ... 1-877-GMB-DIRECT. 1-877-462-3473. info@gmbtrack.com. Member Log In. Username :. Password :. Publisher, Advertiser ... gmbtrack.com/
**** Now more slime **** Sweeps-US.com - About Us ... COM is one of the family of Web sites owned and operated by GMB DIRECT. Founded in 1998, GMB DIRECT is a leader within the online marketing industry. ... sweeps-us.com/aboutus/
**** Buy "opt-in" mailing lists **** Optin Email Directory Directory - Business directory, Business to ... ... Email Marketing - National, Click to visit! GMB Direct. www.gmbdirect.com. New York, New York. 877 GMB Direct. Click to visit! Targetware. www.targetware.com. ... www.optinemaildirectory.com/s.asp?d=1478
**** Finally the "give-away" - true "slime" - the privacy page from a Russian site they run (read the find print) **** E-Get - Privacy policy Privacy policy Last Updated: March 12, 2004. GMB Direct ("GMB Direct," "we," "us," "our") has created this site (the "Site") in order to advise you of GMB ... www.vme.net.ru/Privacy/
Against them; Their contract specifically states they are not responsible for the "correctness" of the lists. They will "rent" or "sell" email address lists. They will willingly transfer data gathered from one client to any other paying client (read the "privacy" statement). They have an extremely large number of domains, many hidden with private registrations.
In their defense; They are very expensive compared to many spammers. They claim some large companies as customers. --- Thats it.
They make it seem like they are legit, but they offer to use any customer provided list to email to (with no mention about "checking"). So clearly they are in the "spam support" business but may have some legitimate customers; Also, many of there domains are "hidden" with private registrations and their seem to fall into three categories - the ones that say they are GMB and are trying to sell services, the ones that say they are GMB but are for gathering personal information using questionable "sweepstakes" (e.g. Win a {TV, Gift Certificate, Sony VAIO, etc}) and other tatics, and finally the ones which do not identify themselves at all. The mere existence if the third group makes them slime (as does the second) and probably make them spammers for themselves as well as for customers (this wouldn't stand up in court, but probably would for a Grand Jury - You can decide where the decision should fall). So the question of "how spammy" is still open, but "are they spammers" is answered (i.e. you may want to list some domains, but not others).
Paul Shupak track@plectere.com