from the department of random annoyances

[edenfalling]

About five days ago, some asshole used my legal name email address to sign up for a Spanish-language internet dating site. Since then, I have been getting at least 100 emails a day from that site, to the general effect of 'Legal-First-Name-Random-String-of-Numbers has received a new message' or 'Random-Name-Who-Is-Probably-a-Bot has done something in relation to your post/profile/message/what-the-hell-ever'. (I would be more specific except I do not speak Spanish and don't entirely trust Google's auto-translate function.)

I mean, Gmail knows they are spam and duly files them as such, but still!

I can't even unsubscribe from the damn thing, since that would require knowing what password the asshole created when they used my email to sign up. *headdesk*

The site, for those who may be curious, is Plentyoffish Media Inc. #142-757 West Hastings St., PMB 670, Vancouver, BC V6C1A1. Their web address is pof.com.mx. (Are they Canadian or Mexican? Who knows!)

I feel like I should write them an annoyed letter or something.

Comments

[redwolf]

If the email has no unsubscribe or there's no reset password option (which should send a link back to your email address), you could always get yourself blocked.

Set up a filter in Gmail. Forward all POF garbage to csr@pof.com or send a canned response.

[edenfalling]

I tried the reset password option, which did not work.

The company does not have a customer service email address, which is pretty damn fishy if you ask me. But I was able to find their PR address, and while I couldn't get Gmail to set up an auto-forward option (apparently you need a confirmation code to verify that the forwarding address belongs to you), I can sure as hell MANUALLY forward them with an annoyed 'I don't have an account. Stop sending me email' message -- which, in fact, I have started doing.

[branchandroot]

If there's no unsubscribe option, that's actually illegal. You should definitely write them an annoyed letter, demanding they delete the account PDQ.

[edenfalling]

Right now, I am forwarding every spam message they send me to their PR email address, which was the only email contact I was able to find anywhere on the web. (If that strikes you as deeply fishy, you are not alone.) If that doesn't work, I will research my options so as to sound informed when I write them the pissed off letter.