First of all, let me start this post by saying that I love Google. I truly do. They are probably my favorite search engine. They are my default in every browser I use. I use the Google Toolbar like it's going out of style. Google Bookmarks have saved my behind more than once. The Google Sidebar is just about the coolest thing I've ever seen and iGoogle is destination every single morning. Now, that said, what in the heck was this doing in my inbox just now?
At first glance, you could really fool someone into thinking that this was a product released and promoted by Google itself. Not so. I even started to wonder if I had shopped at a Google Store once before, given my email address and forgotten to uncheck one of those pesky "remind me about your offers" options that is on every form these days. Not so.
It turns out that this really is Spam right down to the missing opt-out components. A search of the website gave me this little tidbit:
Or maybe I'm wrong and spammers like this are a dime a dozen, trying to make a couple bucks off of an established brand because they know that everyone else is doing it and that the legal resources necessary to track down and order them all to cease and desist would be unrealistic. I hope it's the former and not the latter.
At first glance, you could really fool someone into thinking that this was a product released and promoted by Google itself. Not so. I even started to wonder if I had shopped at a Google Store once before, given my email address and forgotten to uncheck one of those pesky "remind me about your offers" options that is on every form these days. Not so.
It turns out that this really is Spam right down to the missing opt-out components. A search of the website gave me this little tidbit:
"We are dedicated to providing the latest products and accessories that integrate directly into Google Earth. If you know of any additional products that are not avaialble here please contact us and we will try to add to to our inventory.I wonder how much longer this company will have license to Google properties once enough users on that spam list have sent this email to abuse@google.com? They might hang out for a while longer, maybe even get another blast like this out, but I'm pretty sure that Google is concerned enough about reputation to nip this in the bud.
GoogleEarthStore.com
942 Calle Amanecer
Suite B
San Clemente, CA 92673, USA
949-243-7056
Copyright 2007 GoogleEarthStore.com San Clemente, California
Google Earth and the Google logos are the property of Google, Inc., Mountain View, California
This website licenses the Google Checkout system and other online services from Google, Inc."
Or maybe I'm wrong and spammers like this are a dime a dozen, trying to make a couple bucks off of an established brand because they know that everyone else is doing it and that the legal resources necessary to track down and order them all to cease and desist would be unrealistic. I hope it's the former and not the latter.
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