Is extracting emails and sending spam/illegal?
- Thread starter kiwilx
- Start date
smoketowntheory
Registered Member
- Jul 20, 2008
- 61
- 19
Spam is the use of electronic messaging systems (including most broadcast media, digital delivery systems) to send unsolicited bulk messages indiscriminately.
Email spam, also known as unsolicited bulk Email (UBE), junk mail, or unsolicited commercial email (UCE), is the practice of sending unwanted email messages, frequently with commercial content, in large quantities to an indiscriminate set of recipients. (thank you wikipedia)
Now, if you do what you're suggesting, not only are you violating ToS and Privacy Statements, you're setting yourself up for fines and/or jail time.
That's the harsh view of it. The reality is that more than likely your host or ISP will slap you down first, which is terribly inconvenient. It takes quite a bit for the gov't to get involved....like total gross negligent spamming of any and everything in sight.
That's why you see "By clicking here you agree that you may receive emails from our affiliates/partners/networks/etc." This catchall statement covers and (somewhat) protects you. Let's be honest, how many people really alert the authorities (or anyone for that matter) that they got an email for a bigger dick? People that don't use the internet that often get annoyed - but it won't go nowhere. People who do use the internet often don't remember shit from shinolah as far as what they clicked and what they agreed too, so they are likely to ignore/delete the unwanted messages. I for one get hundreds of spam email/day on one of my email accounts. I scan them over long enough to make sure I didn't miss anything important, then delete them. Its like getting direct marketing mats in your mailbox. You didn't ask for it, but somewhere along (a very long line) you agreed to receive stuff. Are you going to contact you local post office, legislator or city official to complain? Probably not. Even if you DID, they'll probably smile and nod.
Bottom line, scraping isn't as big an issue as what and how you use what you get.
Email spam, also known as unsolicited bulk Email (UBE), junk mail, or unsolicited commercial email (UCE), is the practice of sending unwanted email messages, frequently with commercial content, in large quantities to an indiscriminate set of recipients. (thank you wikipedia)
Now, if you do what you're suggesting, not only are you violating ToS and Privacy Statements, you're setting yourself up for fines and/or jail time.
That's the harsh view of it. The reality is that more than likely your host or ISP will slap you down first, which is terribly inconvenient. It takes quite a bit for the gov't to get involved....like total gross negligent spamming of any and everything in sight.
That's why you see "By clicking here you agree that you may receive emails from our affiliates/partners/networks/etc." This catchall statement covers and (somewhat) protects you. Let's be honest, how many people really alert the authorities (or anyone for that matter) that they got an email for a bigger dick? People that don't use the internet that often get annoyed - but it won't go nowhere. People who do use the internet often don't remember shit from shinolah as far as what they clicked and what they agreed too, so they are likely to ignore/delete the unwanted messages. I for one get hundreds of spam email/day on one of my email accounts. I scan them over long enough to make sure I didn't miss anything important, then delete them. Its like getting direct marketing mats in your mailbox. You didn't ask for it, but somewhere along (a very long line) you agreed to receive stuff. Are you going to contact you local post office, legislator or city official to complain? Probably not. Even if you DID, they'll probably smile and nod.
Bottom line, scraping isn't as big an issue as what and how you use what you get.
BlaqReaper
Junior Member
- Sep 7, 2011
- 130
- 207
To be legal you must provide a name, address (P.O. box), user agreement (opt-in list), and unsubscribe link. That said this is BlackHatWorld, just know though this is a bit beyond blackhat and could bring you legal issues. Last but not least, most e-mails send much of the unsolicited mail straight into spam if you don't have agreements and permission, etc.
My 2 cents.
If you can some how get them to double opt-in with some genuine promotions, you may turn around 8/10% persons who may fall prey. Then the refines list will be gold. Else it will be a pain in the ... as long as you try to manage it or use it.
If you can some how get them to double opt-in with some genuine promotions, you may turn around 8/10% persons who may fall prey. Then the refines list will be gold. Else it will be a pain in the ... as long as you try to manage it or use it.
Cnotey
Power Member
- Jun 25, 2010
- 730
- 984
Go read CAN-SPAM Blaq, you do not need user agreement to send emails. Spam is perfectly legal, as long as you provide unsub options, and your name and mailing address.
markhenry121
Elite Member
- Oct 14, 2011
- 2,147
- 242
Yes spam is sometimes proves useful for us but mostly it contains unsolicited mails.
Spam is illegal though not illegal federally it is illegal in almost all states.
jascoken
Senior Member
- Nov 1, 2010
- 1,135
- 753
It is certainly illegal in the UK; unless you can prove the email was obtained through the normal course of business.
See this UK 'Email Marketing & The Law' PDF I uploaded for everyone. The last page has a simple workflow diagram.
http://www.mediafire.com/?kle5m2zeviqoum2
See this UK 'Email Marketing & The Law' PDF I uploaded for everyone. The last page has a simple workflow diagram.
http://www.mediafire.com/?kle5m2zeviqoum2
BlaqReaper
Junior Member
- Sep 7, 2011
- 130
- 207
I have, but not much in depth since I dont' do e-mail marketing. But I thought unsolicited e-mails weren't legal (not sure). Otherwise what would they be unsubbing out of if they never opted in anything?
thefish2010
BANNED
- Jun 25, 2009
- 472
- 1,873
Contrary to popular belief, CAN-SPAM defined a set of rules by which you can send unsolicited email - it did not make it illegal. In a nutshell, you can't use deceptive content, you can't use any technique to mask who sent the email, you must include a physical address where you can receive mail, and you must honor unsubscribe requests.
As far as scraping email addresses, the legality depends entirely on how and where you are doing it. For example, using Google to find sites that have email addresses and then grabbing them from a ton of different sites, is most likely not illegal since they could not have been scraped by Google if they were not posted publicly. If you are grabbing them from a password-protected database that you don't own, it probably is illegal. However, remember that the odds that there will be some fallout from scraping emails, unless you are doing something highly illegal to obtain them from an IP address that can be tied directly to you, are pretty small.
So, yes, as long as you follow the CAN SPAM rules, you can legally scrape and send to random emails as long as you don't sent to emails after they unsubscribe.
Code:
http://business.ftc.gov/documents/bus61-can-spam-act-compliance-guide-businessAs far as scraping email addresses, the legality depends entirely on how and where you are doing it. For example, using Google to find sites that have email addresses and then grabbing them from a ton of different sites, is most likely not illegal since they could not have been scraped by Google if they were not posted publicly. If you are grabbing them from a password-protected database that you don't own, it probably is illegal. However, remember that the odds that there will be some fallout from scraping emails, unless you are doing something highly illegal to obtain them from an IP address that can be tied directly to you, are pretty small.
So, yes, as long as you follow the CAN SPAM rules, you can legally scrape and send to random emails as long as you don't sent to emails after they unsubscribe.
Last edited:
Digital_Man
Registered Member
- Jun 15, 2011
- 51
- 29
scrape
Send good email engaging them to contact you
send offer
no laws broken
be outside the box
Send good email engaging them to contact you
send offer
no laws broken
be outside the box
dezinerjimmy
Junior Member
- Nov 10, 2011
- 103
- 11
This isin't spam really for the people have the options to unsubscribe from getting the emails. Among them ,some will benefit if you had sheared relevant information.
You just need to get people who have shown interest in the field you have shared in other places like forums and social sites.
You just need to get people who have shown interest in the field you have shared in other places like forums and social sites.