DSTV Spamming the hacked LinkedIn Email Database

[Jack_Hammond]

As any good netizen, I have been using "plus addresses" for some time, and it's always interesting to see which dodgy companies buy and sell email addresses online.

Today I received an invitation to the "DSTV Delicious International Food & Music Festival" from the Spam Agency Scatterlings / MaverickMind.

The interesting thing was this was sent to my "+LinkedIn@" address, and a quick check on haveibeenpwned shows this address was in the LinkedIn leak.

Since my profile is restricted and I use my professional work email in my Contact Card, I can only assume that they downloaded the leak and are now spamming all and sundry from that list.

I guess Netflix coming to town has hit them harder than they admit, if they have to resort to illegal activities to keep going.

Anyone else notice this use of the LinkedIn leak yet?

~~JH

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

Have you contacted the agency/DSTV as they are violating ECTA (which is a criminal offense) - something along those lines (not going to mention the agency as they shut down the marketing company providing them with "leads"):

Dear XXXX,

over the last two weeks I have been inundated by unsolicited messages which originate from your company and this morning (4th March 2016 at 11:59) I received a sales call from MiWay insurance (tel +27 87 350 7777) who informed me that my details have been acquired from your company. I was not able to speak to anyone at your head office on Friday and all 3 calls (from 12pm onwards) had been disconnected by reception or the receiving party.

As you are aware, these calls and messages constitute an unsolicited communication in terms of section 45 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (Act 25 of 2002).

In terms of section 45(4) of this Act, this email serves as notification that I do not wish to receive any further communications from you and any 3rd parties you have provided my personal details. Failure to comply with this request constitutes a criminal offense in terms of the ECT Act.

Additionally, I hereby request that you immediately disclose where you obtained my contact details, as per section 45(1) of the ECT Act as well as to disclose to who those details have been provided. Failure to respond to this request also constitutes a criminal offence and I will take the necessary legal action against your company should I not receive a response with full disclosure by 11th March 2016.

I note that your original messages did not provide me with an option to cancel my subscription to your mailing list and SMS campaigns, as required by section 45(1) of the Act. This means that you may already have committed an offense in terms of section 45(3) of the Act, and may be subject to prosecution.

Should you wish to familiarise yourself with the relevant legislation, or check my facts, a copy of the ECT Act is available on-line via the Government’s web site: http://www.info.gov.za/view/DownloadFileAction?id=68060

Your co-operation in this matter will be appreciated and I am waiting your full response by no later than 11th March 2016.

further you can do this:

.... I await your detailed response - especially covering
(a) how you obtained my details,
(b) to whom my details have been provided
(c) what information is stored on your system (I am more than happy to submit a formal PAIA request if necessary) and
(d) how you will ensure that those details are removed from your and your clients databases.