tlug: Spam: somebody _is_ doing something

["Stephen J. Turnbull" <turnbull@example.com>]

It's not a mass movement or anything like that, but I thought you
might be interested to know that at least one person is trying to
bring a spammer to book, big time.  Lawyers, and all that.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that spam itself (or even fraud) is at
issue; it's defamation of character.  Still, anything that tends to
show that spamming upsets too many people to be safe is a good thing.

I have received permission from Mr. Gelman (the lawyer) to provide
this information: "Please feel free to pass on any information set
forth in our initial letter to you."  Also a follow-up questionnaire.
These people are serious.

Great!

By the way, if you received a copy of any spam putatively from
Dr. Karyl McBride, Mr. Gelman would like to hear from you.

---- Begin included message ----

• To: turnbull@example.com
• Subject: Response to your spam complaint
• From: GELMANLAW <GELMANLAW@example.com>
• Date: Wed, 22 Oct 1997 16:51:13 EDT
• Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
• Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com)

Our law firm represents Dr. Karyl McBride, who has brought a lawsuit in the
Arapahoe County District Court of Colorado against the individual who she
believes sent several spams to tens of thousands of people indicating Dr.
McBride as the author/originator of these e-mails.  

In May and/or June of this year you received one of these spams which
described a "get rich quick scheme."  From information we have received as
part of our investigation in this case, after you received the spam, you e-
mailed a complaint to Mile High On Line and/or Earthlink expressing your
displeasure at having received the spam.

I am attempting to contact as many people as possible who received this spam
to discuss this with them.  I would greatly appreciate your contacting me by
e-mail at GELMANLAW@example.com, via fax at 303-740-8699, via telephone at
303-740-8696 or by mail at 5990 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., #230, Englewood, CO
80111.  If you need a copy of this spam to refresh your recollection on what
the spam said or your reaction to it, we can e-mail this to you.  However,
because in some cases it is as long as eight pages, depending on which spam
you received, we did not want to send this to you without having received your
permission to send it.  If it is easier, we can mail or fax this to you to
avoid your having to pay on-line charges to receive the copy of the spam.

The information you may have regarding receipt of this spam could be very
important to Dr. McBride's case against this individual, and we would greatly
appreciate hearing from you at your earliest convenience.  Thank you very
much.

Very truly yours, 

Scott Gelman, Attorney at Law
West Weaver Hepner PC
5990 Greenwood Plaza Blvd. #230
Englewood, CO  80111
Phone: (303)740-8696

---- End included message ----