Fanbox is SPAM
March 19th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under
Have you been receiving emails from “people I know” that “have questions”, “want to share a picture”, etc? The links lead to a very elaborate phishing website: fanbox.com, which uses AJAX to make things look like a Windows desktop. It looks like a high-end web 2.0 application.
Make no mistake about it, Fanbox is SPAM. They will phish your password and SPAM your friends. There are a few bloggers out there helping to spread the word. Please do the same.
Spread the word to your friends on Myspace, Facebook, Hi5, where ever you network. Let’s get Fanbox to have to change their name again. They used to be sms.ac, until they got ferreted out.
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Comment by Jim Jones on 16 April 2008:
How is it a phishing site if you enter your user name and password to give them access to import your contacts. They are upfront that they will be contacing your friends and if you don’t want them to, don’t give them the info.
Maybe you should do some research before you write about something you know nothing about.
Admin Reply: Jim, you are likely an employee of Fanbox. However, for the edification of our readers who have legitimate concerns about the protection of their personal information and who we try to provide as much information to so that they can make education decisions while using the Internet, I will address your obnoxious reply.
First, I have considerable experience with Internet technology and Internet law. I’ve spent nearly 15 years working on Internet technology, from developing Instant message servers to complex ecommerce platforms. I’ve also consulted various law enforcement agencies on their information systems, from developing criminal record management systems to developing grant management software for DA offices. So, my research into the subject of fraudulent Internet marketing techniques goes far beyond reading a Fanbox privacy policy.
Phishing is a method used by companies, like Fanbox, to capture information from Internet users so that said companies may use it for their own purposes. Fanbox leveraged the names and email addresses captured from their SMS.ac service to seed their initial SPAM campaign. They continue to send unsolicited emails to the email addresses they captured from people providing their lists to them. This is, by definition, phishing. Perhaps you and your colleagues at Fanbox should read up on what phishing really is. They also create “accounts” for people who click on an email but don’t actually create an account. They use an opt-out policy as opposed to an opt-in policy. They are a SPAM business.
To address your statement: “They are upfront that they will be contacing your friends and if you don’t want them to, don’t give them the info.” Enron said the energy shortage in California was not something it fabricated. Fanbox is no different. A company is measured by what it does, especially when what it does is different from what it says.
Comment by Marty on 24 April 2008:
I feel sick to my stomach now…I ignorantly clicked on the innocently posed “question” Fanbox sent me,lo and behold I get a “welcome” e-letter seconds later and some other ignorant garbage which I instantly deleted.
I’m not well versed in this internet hustling,but I know that lies and deceit are probably the only thing “free” out there,and they seem to be disguised as “services”…I need none of them!
Is it too late to purge this Fanbox-crap from my hard drive before it provides its “services” elsewhere?
Comment by postmannen on 7 May 2008:
Thanx for this warning. I recieved an email from “someone I know” that had a question. In the email there was a link to this site. I didn’t click it, but decided to research this fanbox first…
Thanx alot!