Mailing lists are traded for vast sums - the more accurate and targeted the information, the higher the price.
Some businesses clearly couldn't believe their luck on Friday, August 6, when the SA Revenue Service delivered them the email addresses of more than 15 000 companies - free.
Lalchund Misra, who runs a small business in Joburg, emailed Consumer Watch last week to say SARS had sent out an "Important Notice to all Employers", with an attachment named "File 6, Paye Info Sheet".
He opened the email, sent from sarsefiling@ sars.gov.za, but instead of finding the PAYE information, he found the email addresses of 15 200 other business people.
"I am now being flooded with emails from people selling (everything) from protective clothing to tax services. Is there anything that can be done about this?" he asked.
Well, it couldn't be undone, but I could find out how the mistake - and massive breach of confidentiality - happened. SARS spokesman Marco Granelli confirmed it was indeed a case of finger trouble.
"The mailing list was attached instead of the PAYE information in error," he said.
"We send millions of emails to businesses, but in batches of 15 000 so that if mistakes happen, they are contained," he said, adding that it was the first time such a mistake had happened.
"Disciplinary action is being taken."
And from now on all such emails will go through an extra check before being sent out.
"We are taking this incident incredibly seriously and will be sending an email to all those affected, apologising for the error," Granelli said.
The businesses will also be getting the form they were supposed to have got on August 6.
And to those who are capitalising on the mistake, by spamming the thousands whose email addresses inadvertently landed up in their inbox, you may want to heed Sars's legal notice regarding electronic mail - the bit at the bottom of the e-mail which no one reads: "Should you have received this email in error, please delete and destroy it and any attachments thereto immediately. At no time may you act on the information contained therein."
