I just received an unsolicited e-mail from Robert Sexton of Star Positions.
I've posted the text of the e-mail below.
Basically, Mr. Sexton and his company are offering search engine optimization. Of course, the problem is that he's offering his services unsolicited by spamming e-mail addresses, bulletin boards, and forums, and what's worse, threatening anyone who attempts to out him.
Want proof? Google ""star position" "robert sexton" spam". You'll get this link which contains a really interesting thread.
"You know,
I also received this email from a Robert Saxton""Robert Sexton and his Star Position company are notorious spammmers. He
tries to play high and mighty but a few of our company email alias are
bombed with UCE from him on a regular basis.""This outfit sends from comprimised open-relays such as the current one 66.174.76.167
I was once getting over 10 spams from this guy everyday until firewalling the blocking all the sending IP's"
Other people have gotten similar spam from Star Positions, like this woman.
Apparently, Mr. Sexton doesn't know about the CAN SPAM Act, which has the following requirement:
It requires that commercial email be identified as an advertisement and include the sender's valid physical postal address.
Yeah, um, Bob, I don't see a valid physical postal address with this e-mail.
I wonder what the penalty for that is.
"Each violation of the above provisions is subject to fines of up to $11,000."
Hmm... that's going to cost them a pretty penny.
Now about that valid posital address?
Google says it is:
Just in case anyone wanted to know. :)
The law that Mr. Sexton IS however familiar with is the one he uses to threaten people who try to out him. Using Google's index cache, I found a site that is no longer up that posted an e-mail from our spammy friend:
Seems that Star Position employees make these kinds of "errors" all the time. Good thing there is absolutely no reason why this company would have any reason to fear their safety if I posted the same phone number that they not only e-mail out to thousands of people, but is also available on Google.One of my people emailed you in error. You've seen fit to put her
phone number on it. In case it has not dawned on you, you are actually
by doing this in violation of certain Penal Codes for the State of
California -> look
up 'cyberterrorism' 'cyberstalking' specifically California Penal Code
646.9 'actions which would be designed to put an individual in fear for
their safety'I'm going to look at your site again in 24 hours. You are going to
be a good chap and remove any phone numbers from any postings relating
to my company, Star Position.
And before you blow this off, or do something truly even more stupid
than what you have done, I suggest you do a google search for
California Penal Code 646.9 and related topics. We are based in
California.Best Regards,
Robert Sexton
Director of Business Development, Star Position US and Star Position UK
That number again? 949.215.0022
I did find a really useful posting to a thread related to Star Positions:
But what about the actual service? Is this a legit business just using illegitimate marketing techniques?"This loser SPAMs everyone. Forward his crap to spam@uce.gov (the FTC).
If enough people do it, they'll finally investigate his a**"
So the full text of that note?"Star Position does not deliver.
I know because I paid for their service almost a year ago.
I received at most, 200 visitors.
Many of the visitors were from outside of the US,
Many of the visitors were the same person repeatedy.
(I know because I dropped cookies on them)"
Check it out below, while I go file a complaint with the LA Better Business Bureau.
"Without being seen website can be little "If your site is seen you're the one people will tend to contact. It's What do a Realtor, a major bank, an clinic have in common? They are who have discovered a better way to GOOGLE and thirteen other sites are always seen first, 100% of engines, even above the sponsored the sometimes exorbitant charges sponsored links. This is possible due to search downloads, which are predominantly US-based. This you first 100% of the time across the major search across our whole Network! For everyone who has the on their PCs, you are about to engines! This is the placement we do the names of the search engines is search term 'BANKING' always points to the top sixteen search engines,
first on the major search engines, your
more than a glorified business card."
first on the search engines, chances are
that simple."
attorney, and a natural health
among the over 13,000 companies
be seen first on YAHOO, MSN,
search engines. A way in which their
the time, across the major search
links, but WITHOUT having to pay
associated with the 'pay per click'
toolbar technology, with over 26 million
allows us to place
engines,
exclusively,
toolbar installed
see what they see on the major search
for Chase Bank. What you see above
even
Chase Bank's actual website! The
their site on the Network, across
including GOOGLE, YAHOO and
MSN!
This is the placement we do for a
Los Angeles Realtor, Kathryn Bishop.
What you see above
even
the
names of the search engines is her actual
website! The
search
terms 'LOS ANGELES REAL ESTATE' and several others
always points to her site on
the
Network, across the top sixteen search
engines, including
GOOGLE, YAHOO and
MSN!
And lastly, this is the
placement we do for Stone Canyon Mortgage, What you
see above the names of the search
engines is Stone Canyon's actual website!
Stone Canyon has the generic
search term 'MORTGAGE' pointing to their
website on our Network, across the
top sixteen search engines, including
GOOGLE, YAHOO and MSN! What we've
done for Stone Canyon on a nationwide
level, we can do for other mortgage
companies on a more localized level.
You too can have this
guaranteed type of exposure. Our normal run on the
Network goes for one year, but
for those who register with us, by the end
of this week , you will only pay for the first six
months. As for the cost, you'll
probably spend more over the
next year for your morning coffee
than you
would spend for
this.
We do make specific guarantees, Call for details.
including a money back guarantee.
I can be reached at my office, from
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific time.
Please feel free to call me if you
have any questions.
Best regards,
Robert Sexton
Director of Business Development,
Star Position
Phone:
800.481.2979, ext 2001
Direct Line:
949.215.0022