Spam/scam disguised as a Bikeforums/Bikesdirect email
 

Just noticed this e-mail flagged as junk, I thought my mail was just tagging it wrongly as usual, until I noticed the actual email address.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fc9be9e137.jpg


Since this is just a screenshot, it doesn't show the full message but suffice to say, the "4 things" the email asks you to do is to click links. Basic Internet safety says don't click anything, of course.

You’ve included your email address.
you might wish to remove it

Barry

Ah crap, thanks. I'll remove it and reupload it in a bit...

I received that email, but directly from bikesdirect.com (pun intended). It's legit and I've read Mike's book that you can download for free. It's a light, humerous, enjoyable book.

I received as well...
 

I received the email as well. My question is, how did whoever get my email address, whether "legit" or spam, or if not, if they bounced this through bikeforums, also how and why? Sounds like either bikeforums has a security penetraton, or they have sold access to my email, which would be a big no-no. Advertising on the website, fine, that's the price of free, no-cost access to the forum. Spam emails, whether legit or scam, no. I expect to see a response from the bikeforums system administrator.

I wonder if the one I received is a scam version made to look like the legit one from Bikesdirect.

Looking at other emails I've received from Bikeforums (e.g. notifications of PMs and other forum-related matters), they mainly come from a bikeforums.net domain -- though now that I have done a search, there also have been a rare few PM notifications that were sent through an internetbrands.com domain.

Also looking through the links in the email, most of them go back through the travel.ibemail.com domain so I'm not clicking on those to find out where they actually lead... and the Bikesdirect email link contacts an aol account.

Scroll down. There is a forum for this type of post.

There is also a way to opt-out Bike Forums advertisers from emailing you. They pay Internet Brands llc for access.
Big Papa's gotta pay the bills, too.

IIRC: It's in settings somewhere or the "Do not sell my info" link at the bottom of the web page.

You might find something useful under section 9 of https://www.internetbrands.com/privacy/privacy-main/

Thread moved from General to User Assistance.

Quote from website privacy policy
 

Quote from website privacy policy:
I'll be looking for another forum, or not. I can live without it.

It is a legitimate email from our sales team. We do not sell email addresses. We have your email because you've signed up to the site. You can unsubscribe yourself by using the link in the email. It's completely safe and unless there is a technical issue, is completely honored.

The Privacy Policy, as noted above, does not respect Do Not Track signals from browsers; Why should we believe they will respect unsubscribe? And will that unsubscribe me from only that advertiser, or all advertisers?

I've looked for settings in my profile to see if there is something I should change but don't see anything yet, I'll look again after this message.

I don't pick up spam telephone calls because that says to the caller that there is a person associated to the number. Based on recent information, I'll be porting that number and establishing new VOIP numbers to sheild my identity, as increasing amount of personal info is tied to phone numbers. Same for email addresses.

Settings and options, options, unselected "Receive emails from administrators". We'll see if that stops the advertising emails.

Because I am telling you it will, I know the software, and gain no benefit from whether or not you are subscribed. They're also on two different systems (vBulletin vs Exact Target).

It will unsubscribe you from the Bike Forums list, which means you will not get any emails sent on behalf of BikeForum advertisers. However, if you were on another Internet Brands site, you would still get emails from that distribution list.

I joined this site in 2011. I was reminded of that today, when I was spammed at an email address I have only ever used with this site. It was a bikesdirect promo.

I checked my profile and "Receive our newsletter and special promotions from our partners" was unchecked. I set it that way when I originally joined, so I'm not sure why I am getting SPAM, or who thought that preference did not apply to this special SPAM offer.

Clicking links in SPAM messages is insecure and extremely high risk. It is a wonderful way to get hacked.

A heads up
 

I received a pair of apparent spam emails trying to convince me to click on some links regarding my Premium Membership. See below.

I haven't been on here recently, but when I did log on today, my account appears to be paid and I have no unread PMs.

I assume that this is a sophisticated phishing attempt by someone who is familiar with the format and language of the normal auto-generated email alerts.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bcce773dc3.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c987313024.jpg

I just got the same thing as @CO_Hoya, but checking my account, I'm paid up through next year.

It smells like a phishing attack, but mousing over the links and email addresses, they appear to be the same as what is printed. What gives?

Probably poor Quality Assurance procedures prior to moving new or updated software into production.

I didn't get the messages, but what I could see looked legit. But apparently sent to a current member instead of expired or expiring member.