[SpamCop-List] Re: [media] "FTC says federal spam law has worked"

[Fred K.]

"Mike Easter" <MikeE at ster.invalid> wrote in message 
news:dof24g$t0q$1 at news.spamcop.net...
> Mike Easter wrote:
> // The Commission sought data regarding the percentage of recipients
> that avail themselves of the right to opt out.  Data from before the
> passage of the Act showed that the great majority of consumers simply
> deleted or ignored unsolicited email from an unknown sender.49 These
> data are borne out by some of those consulted for this Report, who
> expressed skepticism about recipients' willingness to use opt-out
> mechanisms, given the commonly-held belief that opting out merely
> signals to spammers that they have found a "live" address, and could
> therefore result in more spam.50 None of those interviewed were able to
> provide any evidence that this is, in fact, the case, but clearly the
> perception persists that opting out leads to more spam.  This perception
> remains despite previous FTC research suggesting that opting out does
> not result in the receipt of increased amounts of spam,51 and the
> conclusion of experts that it is unlikely that tracking optout requests
> is an especially effective means for spammers to gather "live"
> addresses.52

I can attest to the fact that Opt-out will get you spam. I tested it with a 
throw
away sneakemail address expressly established for that purpose. I opted out 
using a spam email
received at another address. It took 3 to 4 weeks before the spam started. 
So far it seems
localized to the Meds site spammer that I opted out on. It gets 4 to 7 spams 
per day.
In time I expect that address to be spread to other spammers.

Fred k.