Sponsor's Message

However, I did get a letter from The Readers Digest (TRD) yesterday and believe it or not, I have made the final selection as "a potential winner of $400,000 in the third and final stage of the 93rd Sweepstakes" -- woo hoo!

What's more, I see that TRD is very serious about protecting my personal information because the envelope in which this notification arrived carried the words "Information Protected", something obviously verified by the "Security Reference" number also included.

And, just to ensure that I didn't accidentally overlook this important piece of correspondence, the words "DO NOT DESTROY" were emblazoned on the front in a bold font against a red background.

This sounds too good to be true doesn't it?

Ah, but it must be true because, included with the letter, is a signed statement from TRD's CFO which confirms that total funds of $1,002,400 are to be "held on reserve" for the payment of my prize -- should I win.

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After reading this ridiculous drivel and gasping with disbelief at the childish endorsements and worthless assurances proffered at every turn, I can now see exactly where spammers get their blueprint for email-marketing techniques.

If this letter had been delivered by email then it would have qualified as one of the worst categories of scam/spam, and the fact that it came in the post doesn't really change its bona-fides.

Hell, I've received Nigerian scam emails that sound more credible than this little firelighter from TRD.

However, I guess these lame pitches targeted at those with IQs smaller than their shoe-size must suck in a fair percentage of those who receive them or they wouldn't bother.

Now, if TRD can afford to spend all that money on postage and, thanks to the gullibility of the general public, *still* make a profit from spamming -- imagine how much those email spammers are raking in!

Regular readers will be fully aware of just how much I despise email spam and spammers, well now I'm starting to develop the same hatred for TRD.

Nowhere on this dross are their any instructions for unsubscribing from their paper-spam -- why not?

And where did they get my name and address from? I certainly never signed up for this garbage and I *never* elect to receive this type of mail from anyone or their partners. Has my privacy been breached under NZ law?

TRD tells me that my information is "protected" -- but clearly not well enough or they wouldn't have gotten ahold of it in the first place!

And, just looking at the highly deceptive tone of this pitch, I fear that it won't be long before TRD goes the next step and starts using email to annoy those who never asked to be entered into a draw that probably offers less chance of winning than lotto.

Who else has a problem with TRD's junk mail and have you too noticed the similarity between it and the scam-spam that arrives in your email box every day?

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