I recently updated my c.v. and posted the new version on the Cambridge Network web site. I work as a software developer and would expect to be contacted by local employers and recruitment agencies with related vacancies to fill. What I didn't expect was this:
From: julie.buck@mater.co.uk
To: ben@decadentplace.org.uk
Subject: Re: Software Engineer
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 17:59:39 -0000
This email was generated from the Cambridge Network network.
It was sent from mailto:julie.buck@mater.co.uk
******* THE MESSAGE *******
I noticed that your CV is displayed on the CNL Website and wondered if you may be interested in a very lucrative business opportunity (to initially complement your career/business/job)
This business enables you to ultimately earn a substantial income (in excess of 100,000 within 2-5 years); however, this is NOT a get-rich-quick scheme - it is simply a fantastic business opportunity that allows you to have much more time and freedom, by working for yourself, and ultimately gives you complete financial independence - imagine that! No more debt, nothing owed to ANYONE!
Please check out the following weblink [URL deleted] or simply call me on 01832 226221
Julie Buck
(from a fellow mathematician!)
Now, being an old cynic, and having a generally low opinion of people who send irrelevant unsolicited email, I sent this response:
From: Ben Hutchings <ben@decadentplace.org.uk>
To: julie.buck@mater.co.uk
Cc: editor@cambridgenetwork.co.uk
Subject: Re: Software Engineer
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 19:20:10 +0000
"Julie Buck" <julie.buck@mater.co.uk> wrote:
> I noticed that your CV is displayed on the CNL Website and wondered if
> you may be interested in a very lucrative business opportunity (to
> initially complement your career/business/job)
>
> This business enables you to ultimately earn a substantial income (in
> excess of 100,000 within 2-5 years); however, this is NOT a
> get-rich-quick scheme
No, it's a chance to work long hours to make back your initial
investment, like every other "work from home" scheme.
> - it is simply a fantastic business opportunity that allows you to
> have much more time and freedom, by working for yourself, and
> ultimately gives you complete financial independence - imagine that!
> No more debt, nothing owed to ANYONE!
What exactly makes you think I'm in debt?
> Please check out the following weblink
> [URL deleted] or simply call me on 01832
> 226221
That's not a Cambridge number. Why are you looking over the Cambridge
Network web site? Is it because you need more fools to reduce your own
losses?
> Julie Buck
> (from a fellow mathematician!)
Yeah, whatever.
Ben.
--
Ben Hutchings
Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain. - Lily Tomlin
Like most spammers, she was indignant when challenged:
From: Julie Buck <julie.buck@mater.co.uk>
Reply-To: julie.buck@mater.co.uk
To: 'Ben Hutchings' <ben@decadentplace.org.uk>
Subject: RE: Software Engineer
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 19:22:56 -0000
Get a life - I've been a member of the CNL for 11 years since I started my
business as a marketing consultant...actually
Julie Buck BSc (Hons)
Managing Partner
MATER
Unit 2 Mill Lane
Cotterstock, Oundle
Peterborough
PE8 5HH
T 01832 226221
M 07939 300945
E julie.buck@mater.co.uk
W http://www.mater.co.uk/
marketing - strategy - research
Marketing & interactive multimedia communications consultancy
[Long marketing spiel deleted]
I couldn't leave it at that:
From: Ben Hutchings <ben@decadentplace.org.uk>
To: julie.buck@mater.co.uk
Cc: editor@cambridgenetwork.co.uk
Subject: RE: Software Engineer
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 19:24:04 +0000
Julie Buck wrote:
> Get a life - I've been a member of the CNL for 11 years since I started my
> business as a marketing consultant...actually
Oh, so you're smart enough to be at the top of the pyramid?
Ben.
[Signature block deleted]
I ran a few web searches on domain and product names, and it looks like she's one of many people spamming for the same product, so I guess she's not quite that smart. Anyway, she rose to the bait:
From: Julie Buck <julie.buck@mater.co.uk>
Reply-To: julie.buck@mater.co.uk
To: 'Ben Hutchings' <ben@decadentplace.org.uk>
Subject: RE: Software Engineer
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 19:28:56 -0000
This has NOTHING to do with pyramid selling (which is illegal, BTW) - this
is simply network marketing - something you'll see is growing far more
quickly than any other industry
Yes, I have been getting a lot of spam network
marketing, recently.
Don't worry, I do not need people like yourself in my team, I am simply
looking for those that are self-motivated, enthusiastic and have a
willingness to learn and a desire to be successful - it's completely your
choice if you want to just continue doing what you're doing, whilst I
continue to build my business and earn a substantial income; your choice...
Julie
- tell you what, you could always pass on the attached A4 flyer to those
that you know that ARE self-motivated, enthusiastic and have a willingness
to learn and a desire to be successful...:)
Huh, looks like she's really desparate.
Julie Buck BSc (Hons)
Managing Partner
MATER
Unit 2 Mill Lane
Cotterstock, Oundle
Peterborough
PE8 5HH
T 01832 226221
M 07939 300945
E julie.buck@mater.co.uk
W http://www.mater.co.uk/
marketing - strategy - research
Marketing & interactive multimedia communications consultancy
This time I actually looked through the marketing spiel:
Business Opportunity - Looking for extra income?
Work part-time, earn full-time
Successful businesswoman is expanding her business and seeks ambitious,
self-motivated, enthusiastic individuals who want to escape the rat-race, be
their own boss, want a better work-life balance, build a pension for
themselves, earn a residual income, want more time and freedom, stop
commuting, never want to face redundancy again or simply need a secondary
income-stream (initially without compromising their current
career/job/business/family commitments). If you're interested in part-time
work in the vastly growing natural health and nutrition market, then contact
me NOW or check out the website.
We are looking for self-motivated individuals/couples with a desire to
exceed their current salary. There are opportunities to earn income at three
levels:
1) low level - just build a small customer base and earn some retail profit
(ie. an extra few hundred pounds a month), or
2) level two - build both a team and customers and earn ~�1000 - �3000+ per
month, part-time or
3) top level - ultimately build a residual income of many thousands per
month by being more active than level two.
So, yes, it is a pyramid multi-level marketing
scheme.
Please allow me the opportunity to discuss this in more detail and to SHOW
you how it all works...
To find out more about this opportunity please contact Julie Buck or click
on [URL deleted]
Julie Buck is an Independent Distributor of Forever Living Products
ARE YOU SERIOUS about maintaining good HEALTH?
Then ask about our exclusive range of aloe vera health, nutrition and
skincare products - we have customers that USED to suffer from such health
conditions as: arthritis, eczema, back pain, IBS and other digestive
problems, asthma, psoriasis, hay fever, stressed, lack of energy, menopausal
problems (eg. HRT substitute), PMT, aching muscles, joint problems, skin
problems (eg. Rosacea, acne, dry skin), Crohn's disease, poor vision, poor
sleep, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diverticulitis, undergoing
cancer treatment, about to have an operation, sinusitis, bronchitis,
fibromyalgia, difficulty to conceive, sporting injuries (eg. cartilage
damage), children with learning difficulties/ADHD...and much more
Forever Living Products is the world leader in the production of aloe vera;
our products contain 100% stabilised aloe vera gel
Forever Living Products is a member of the Direct Selling Association
Plus, it involves quack medicine.
MATER is a:
Certified practitioner with Business Link
Member of the Cambridge Network (http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/)
Member of the Huntingdonshire Business Network, HBN (http://www.hbn.org.uk/)
Affiliations with Hong Kong, China and Singapore for resourcing products
from the Far East and assisting UK companies to work on joint projects with
Asian organisations and vice versa
Who cares?
Here's my reply:
From: Ben Hutchings <ben@decadentplace.org.uk>
To: julie.buck@mater.co.uk
Subject: RE: Software Engineer
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 19:49:35 +0000
Julie Buck wrote:
> This has NOTHING to do with pyramid selling (which is illegal, BTW) - this
> is simply network marketing - something you'll see is growing far more
> quickly than any other industry
Did you know that sending unsolicited emails (spamming) can also be
illegal? I *am* soliciting contact in relation to my c.v., but quite
what selling quack medicine has to do with software engineering I really
don't know.
> - tell you what, you could always pass on the attached A4 flyer to those
> that you know that ARE self-motivated, enthusiastic and have a willingness
> to learn and a desire to be successful...:)
Very funny.
> ARE YOU SERIOUS about maintaining good HEALTH?
> Then ask about our exclusive range of aloe vera health, nutrition and
> skincare products - we have customers that USED to suffer from such health
> conditions as: arthritis, eczema, back pain, IBS and other digestive
> problems, asthma, psoriasis, hay fever, stressed, lack of energy, menopausal
> problems (eg. HRT substitute), PMT, aching muscles, joint problems, skin
> problems (eg. Rosacea, acne, dry skin), Crohn's disease, poor vision, poor
> sleep, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diverticulitis, undergoing
> cancer treatment, about to have an operation, sinusitis, bronchitis,
> fibromyalgia, difficulty to conceive, sporting injuries (eg. cartilage
> damage), children with learning difficulties/ADHD...and much more
> Forever Living Products is the world leader in the production of aloe vera;
> our products contain 100% stabilised aloe vera gel
> Forever Living Products is a member of the Direct Selling Association
Wow, that's an astonishing array of unfounded claims to make about the
medical benefits of aloe vera. Which also happens to be illegal. I
shall be sure to pass this on to the MHRA tomorrow.
Ben.
[Signature block deleted]
This time I had to wait a little longer for a clever response, but sure enough:
From: Julie Buck <julie.buck@mater.co.uk>
Reply-To: julie.buck@mater.co.uk
To: 'Ben Hutchings' <ben@decadentplace.org.uk>
Subject: RE: Software Engineer
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 20:45:42 -0000
The reason I sent my email to you was, as you said, because you put your CV
on the CNL website, therefore you're looking for a new challenge, another
job, and hence this business opportunity may be of interest to you. MANY
people in this business have come from a whole host of different backgrounds
but one thing that they have in common is a desire to change, a need
(possibly) for a higher income, a will to 'do better', an interest in
natural products or perhaps a longing to help others. That is why I contact
those on the CNL website with their CVs - so many people get to a stage in
their careers when they want a change, they want more time and freedom, they
want to work from home, they want to escape the rat-race, they fear
redundancy, they want to stop commuting - that's why I emailed you...
Secondly, stop being so funny - if you actually read my words below (which
incidentally have already been approved), you'll see that I say my customers
USED to suffer from ... this is TRUE - we have customers that used to suffer
from all of these conditions and now have huge benefit from taking our
products (my problem used to be severe back pain for 12 years, now I'm
totally pain free - need I say more?)
[Signature block deleted]
Well, I can't resist:
From: Ben Hutchings <ben@decadentplace.org.uk>
To: julie.buck@mater.co.uk
Subject: RE: Software Engineer
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 21:29:48 +0000
You wrote:
> The reason I sent my email to you was, as you said, because you put your CV
> on the CNL website, therefore you're looking for a new challenge, another
> job, and hence this business opportunity may be of interest to you.
Funnily enough, I've been hearing similar stories from some distant
relatives in Nigeria.
> Secondly, stop being so funny - if you actually read my words below (which
> incidentally have already been approved), you'll see that I say my customers
> USED to suffer from ... this is TRUE - we have customers that used to suffer
> from all of these conditions and now have huge benefit from taking our
> products (my problem used to be severe back pain for 12 years, now I'm
> totally pain free - need I say more?)
I did actually notice the weasel wording. However I'm not sure that
there's much legal difference between outright lying and merely making
deliberately misleading statements in advertising. I'll have to see
what the relevant authorities say.
Ben.
[Signature block deleted]
Check back here or on my journal to see where the story goes.