Survey finds 9% of consumers buy from spammers

Stan Beer
Monday, 13 February 2006 04:13

Business IT - Security

A new survey has found 9% of computer users have purchased goods sold through spam emails. In the lead up to valentine's Day, the survey of 533 respondents, from internet security vendor Sophos, found the strong support for spammers from consumers is encouraging spammers to continue their practice of sending unsolicited bulk emails.

Sophos, is urging consumers to boycott companies which try to sell goods via spam in the run-up to St Valentine's Day on Tuesday 14 February.  According to Sophos, the 9% figure its survey revealed is more than enough to keep spammers in business and encourage them to continue bombarding innocent users with unsolicited emails.
 
As Valentine's Day approaches, Sophos says its global network of spamtraps is seeing thousands of unsolicited bulk emails being sent with the intention of selling Valentine-related products.
 
Subject lines seen have included:

-- 'Give the scent of love this year!'
-- 'Whiter Teeth before Valentines'
-- 'Don't Wait - 15% Off All Valentine Fresh Flowers'
 
Goods promoted via Valentine-related spam in the past, according to Sophos, have ranged from skimpy lingerie to chocolates, flowers to pashmina shawls, and even adult board games.
 
"This year spammers are not only suggesting goods you can buy for your loved ones at Valentine's, they're also peddling ways to make yourself more attractive to the opposite sex, such as teeth whitening products. As our web poll has proved, the sad truth is that there are people out there who buy products sold via spam and admit they visit websites promoted via bulk email," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos.
 
"But if you buy goods marketed via spam then you are simply encouraging the spammers to send more junk email. If no-one purchased the products then the spammers would disappear.  It's time to boycott the companies who use spam to sell their goods. If you receive an unsolicited commercial email don't try, don't buy, don't reply."