So, I just received an email saying I can buy email databases. This guy’s English.. isn’t exactly top notch, but as far as I can, the names dropped below are *not* the names of customers buying the lists, but, disconcertingly, where the lists originate from.

1) Deal.com.sg – 650k db
2) Groupon – 400k db
3) Zalora – 360k db
4) Reboonz – 440k db
5) Clout Shoppe – 65k db
6) Jiggo – 130k db
7) Lazada – 195k db

I’m assuming those are the numbers of names in each db, or database. So, deal.com.sg’s database would have approximately 650,000 names.

I hope I didn’t read this wrong because this either means there’s a leak (a staff selling the list unbeknownst to the companies in question), a hack, or they’ve been actively selling the names, contacts and purchase history of their customers.

And this is how it ends, which is probably the best part:

“P/S: Singapore data protection act only for voice calling and does not affect email marketing. Refer “NimeShop” testimonial for the best supporting evidence that my buyer are still sending their marketing campaign online.”

There are also a few testimonials, mostly from small businesses and blogshop owners, talking about the effectiveness of these lists.

I absolutely love how these enterprising folks are actively taking advantage of the fact that the government’s anti-spam policies are pretty much pointless.

Is there something we can do about this?

Stock Image from: freedigitalphotos.net