Threat Letter May Not Be Kosher. Advice?

[whisper2]

I just received an email from e-campaign demanding payment because I have a cracked version of their software on my computer. Being obliged to pay isn't the issue: I was looking for good newsletter software to recommend to a client, and e-campaign was already a strong candidate.

I have several concerns about this email, though. I figure the cracked software "called home" somehow. A couple of thoughts occured to me, especially since the letter is highly threatening and does not even suggest uninstalling the software (i.e., "pay now or else!"). First, this could be a creative business scheme where the company itself plants cracked software and then blackmails people into becoming customers - relying on the fact that people who use p2p will be too scared of getting in trouble to report them.

Another possibility is that this email isn't from the company at all. Perhaps some pirates added in the call home to *them*, and the payment link in the email leads to a phishing page. They too would be exploiting the culture of fear created by the RIAA to cover their blackmail.

Is there any way to quietly investigate this or anonymously report it to the appropriate agencies if this is a scam?

[Pooter's Left Nut]

ignore it.



p

[cheapprick]

Another possibility is that this email isn't from the company at all. Perhaps some pirates added in the call home to *them*, and the payment link in the email leads to a phishing page. They too would be exploiting the culture of fear created by the RIAA to cover their blackmail.

Ding ding ding.

[shawners]

They cant do sh!t, its too costly to take you to court and then you dont have to pay. They would be out of alot of money and actually have to prove you didnt enter the wrong serial by accident. Its a fake, ignore it. Send a letter telling them what assholes they are. Its a fake and no one ever went to prison by using a program like this.

[whisper2]

Thanks for giving me your impressions on this.

It's a weird situation because the software is for a client, and he would have paid for it. I was just trying to find the best one to recommend. I'm a little hesitant about recommending e-campaign now because I never got a chance to test it (the whole reason I downloaded it was their Trial version didn't allow me to do a big test). Now I'm afraid if I test this, and the letter is legit, then I'll get in trouble with the company even though the client would ultimately pay for it.

On the other hand, if they are running a blackmail-for-customers scheme, I don't really want to reward them for it. It's a very confusing situation.

[Lehk]

just pull out your network cable if you are really worried about it.

otherwise ignore the email altogether.

[Steven Icicle]

The appropriate agencies would be the law regarding small compaines in the country of origin of the software, my most learnered friend. Try blocking the software, if that doesn't work it could be piggy backing to microsoft.

[YWD67]

Ding ding ding.

Cheapprick is right. "We have a winner!"

It is just a ploy to suck some bucks out of you.

[Jorge]

how did they get your email address? That might have been your first mistake...

[DwarfBaby]

how did they get your email address? That might have been your first mistake...

Exactly, ___________________

[shawners]

Zeropaid sells email addresses on the side. Soon as i signed up at zp, i got credit card offers and a free penis enlarger device. Curtesy of zp.
The wife says thank you.

[Mels_Smileys45]

Watch out shawners, you might get sued for saying that

[mfgbypooter]

Zp loves to help it's members reach their full potential.

While his wife is out shopping with new credit cards shawners is at home trying to grow a dick.

*

[Mels_Smileys45]

Zp loves to help it's members reach their full potential.

While his wife is out shopping with new credit cards shawners is at home trying to grow a dick.

*



Lawdy lawdy lawdy!


ZP didn't send me a device for enlarging my wenis! I feel cheated! I enlarge mine the old fashioned way. I tie a length of string around it attached to a large rock and let it stretch it out for a few hours a day. Like the African tribes use to do. Now its12 inches long and half an inch around.

[mfgbypooter]

I didn't get one either.

maybe jorge only sends out those pecker stretchers to those that needs them the most.

*

[DwarfBaby]

Lawdy lawdy lawdy!


ZP didn't send me a device for enlarging my wenis! I feel cheated! I enlarge mine the old fashioned way. I tie a length of string around it attached to a large rock and let it stretch it out for a few hours a day. Like the African tribes use to do. Now its12 inches long and half an inch around.

No they didn’t send me a device for enlarging my penis either as that would be contrary to Einstein’s theory of special relativity. Singularity in particular.

In mathematics, singularity theory is the study of the failure of manifold structure. A loop of string can serve as an example of a one-dimensional manifold, if one neglects its width. What is meant by a singularity can be seen by dropping it on the floor. Probably there will appear a number of double points, at which the string crosses itself in an approximate 'X' shape. These are the simplest kinds of singularity. Perhaps the string will also touch itself, coming into contact with itself without crossing, like an underlined 'U'. This is another kind of singularity. Unlike the double point, it is not stable, in the sense that a small push will lift the bottom of the 'U' away from the 'underline'.

[Mels_Smileys45]

I had no idea Einstein was talking about my dick. No wonder his hair looked like that. Often my dates hair looks the same after a long night of date rape.

[mfgbypooter]

FDR: Gay Einstein!

EINSTEIN: What?!

FDR: The equation! Is it finished?

EINSTEIN: Yes! It’s E…

FDR: Yes?

EINSTEIN: … equals…

FDR: Yes? Yes?

EINSTEIN: MC…

FDR: Spit it out, man.

EINSTEIN: E=MC Cock!

FDR: Grrrr! I’m asking you for the last time, Gay Einstein: Did you bring me something special today?! (Einstein stands up, brings down his pants’ fly) No, no, no, you maroon! (Einstein sits back down) I wanted a weapon of mass destruction to defeat our Axis powers! (Einstein stands back up, brings down his pants’ fly again) Is that all you ever think about? (Einstein zips pants up, puts finger to chin, waits a beat, brings zipper back down) There’s a war on, you egg-headed sissy!

More Here (http://www.noshame.org/scripts/rust_stangl030425.htm)

*

[lifehacker]

FDR: Gay Einstein!

EINSTEIN: What?!

FDR: The equation! Is it finished?

EINSTEIN: Yes! It’s E…

FDR: Yes?

EINSTEIN: … equals…

FDR: Yes? Yes?

EINSTEIN: MC…

FDR: Spit it out, man.

EINSTEIN: E=MC Cock!

FDR: Grrrr! I’m asking you for the last time, Gay Einstein: Did you bring me something special today?! (Einstein stands up, brings down his pants’ fly) No, no, no, you maroon! (Einstein sits back down) I wanted a weapon of mass destruction to defeat our Axis powers! (Einstein stands back up, brings down his pants’ fly again) Is that all you ever think about? (Einstein zips pants up, puts finger to chin, waits a beat, brings zipper back down) There’s a war on, you egg-headed sissy!

More Here (http://www.noshame.org/scripts/rust_stangl030425.htm)

*
LMAO, thanks for the link.:D

[whisper2]

how did they get your email address? That might have been your first mistake...

E-campaign is mass-mailing software, and my test used my email as the return address. I presume that either an extra hidden email went out to the company along with the test emails, or there's some malware that captured the information from my test and automatically sent a threat letter to the return address.

One thing is for sure, I'm not going to recommend this program to other clients - so if the original company did this, then they cost themselves some business.