Reunion.com spam alert

Happened to me, I was doing some poking around the site to see what they were up to, and unintentionally spammed everyone in my address book.

I knew you would not be using such a dork application, plus I don’t go near anything of that nature that requires registration, that one had quite a reek to it.

I was doing some research for a project and checking out various sites like reunion. I happened to have one of those invites in my inbox at the time so I click on it and went through the process. The second screen they have you fill out makes it seem like they are using openID to authorize you (it is my fault, I just glanced and assumed and didn’t look for the logo). Turns out it was really just to get to your google address book. Before I could stop it it had spammed everyone on the list. It is human error that by the looks of things is happening to a lot of us. I should have known better and normally don’t sign up for these types of sites. You click, you learn.

It was interesting what happened afterwards though. A number of people emailed or contacted me via Twitter to make sure I knew what was going on. There was also a spike in traffic to my personal site and a large amount of people that searched my name on google. The latter doesn’t matter to me, but just shows how reaching this issue is.

And fast, from your description very fast processing, I’m lucky for I don’t have to communicate so very widely and have learned to stay simple and out of most ongoing loops. Even from early on never could see the point in using modes such as —- what was that one way back—-uh, ICQ….why would one need that when you had email, I stayed away from even ICQ somehow innately, but as noted I did not need broadband reach (good name for a rock band, as that guy down in Miami might chirp). Now seems I can smell them.

I just got email from Verena Costello from Reunion.com Verena? Riiiight.

This reminds me when myself and a friends go spam from Facebook from some girl that looked almost familiar. There was no girl. Just an excuse to sign up.

Anyway, I reported Reunion to Spamcop. Bastards.

Now, if I can get rid of all my spam from the UAE, (um, why?) I’ll be getting somewhere.

Cheers,
- Alex Zavatone

Mid-life, a few old pals managed to look me up. Made me curious about a few others. Found Reunion…what a mistake!

This was five years ago and I had to ditch the two email addresses I’d given them. So this kind of harassment is less important to government than file-sharing?!?

The same thing happened to me yesterday and I’ve been spending the last 24 hours trying to straighten things out. I got the email at my work address, but decided to join with my personal address (thank goodness for that). But as soon as I entered it, it sent the spam.

I’m a member of both Plaxo.com and LinkedIn.com. Both of those sites allow you to select those you wish to invite.

If you figure out that lawsuit thing, count me in.

[…] Searls Weblog:  (May 10, 2008) Reunion.com spam alert I am among the least litigious people on Earth. But I can’t help but wonder … Could I (or we) […]

I am always CAREFUL to take the time to read anything that prompts me for my Yahoo address book. I saw that Address Book feature on Reunion.com and clicked the opt-out link, so I didn’t have any issues.

I’m thinking that they are not spamming. But Reunion.com does make it very easy to accidentally send invites to everyone in your address book. What I remember is I responded to an invite exactly like the one you show, set up an account and accessed my Yahoo address book (which I use for junk mail and never deleted any old contacts). In tiny writing and a tiny check box is the choice to hand select who you want to invite. If you don’t check this, boom, everyone in your address book is sent an invite like the one above, PLUS this invite shows your current email address you are using for your newly set up Reunion.com account. So far, I had one undesirable person contact me and I’m simply ignoring them, hoping they don’t wreak revenge for things in the past.

I had the same thing happen to me, I inadvertently caused a spam to everyone I know. I am still sorry.

doesv anyone know how to delete your account without being on hold on the phone for an hour?