the_marq

In the past week, three people have emailed me asking to visit a website at www.bebo.com to confirm my email and other contact information. This strikes me as a gigantic scam to gather my email address for nefarious purposes (y'know...spam).

Does anyone have any experience with these guys? Their privacy policy really does not fill me with hope either:

Now I didn't respond to any of the emails I recieved, but I still wonder...what if my idiot friends are dumping their address books into this service?

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The Truth:

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#3 in a series

bacon_masta

Looks like a spammer scam to me. The terms of use seem to be just barely stopping short of selling one's soul to satan. I'll definitely warn people I know about it, thanks for the heads up.

Amnesia620

I use Bebo.com, and so does 90% of my friends and family online. It's just a private online address book. You didn't really research this site and it's purpose, did you? Next time check things out thoroughly before you bad mouth a legit site.

__________________
For example, I find that a lot of college girls are barbie doll carbon copies with few differences...Sadly, they're dumb, ditzy, immature, snotty, fake, or they are the gravitational center to orbiting drama. - Amnesia620

bendsley

Yeah.....uh, screw that. I'm a well experienced computer/internet user and I've only recently heard about it too. I'll keep my address info in Outlook thank you very much.

Also, if they have the statement that they may target your interests with all those email addresses in there.....then they can easily begin to start sending spam should their business start to go south.

__________________
"You hear the one about the fella who died, went to the pearly gates? St. Peter let him in. Sees a guy in a suit making a closing argument. Says, "Who's that?" St. Peter says, "Oh, that's God. Thinks he's Denny Crane."

Amnesia620

Bendsley -

From one well-experienced computer/internet user to another, the site has been up at least 6 months because that's how long ago I was introduced to it. I am aware that this is not a terribly long time, however, they do seem quite trustworthy - the site has given no reason to make people who go there think otherwise...

In no way was I trying to offend you, nor persuade you to change your mind on the subject of Bebo.com. I was only trying to express that it has been around long enough to establish a basic trust among the "internet public"...they give the option (including: Optional email address - which is ONLY necessary if you want receive notifications about people in your address book - joining, changing their info, etc.) to enter as much or as little information as you would like.

I agree with your concern for the uncertain future and that a site like this could cause an increase in spam/ junk emails if it doesn't last. However, with many spam-blocking integrated email/internet sites (I.E. Hotmail.com, Yahoo.com), desktop/laptop programs/applications, spam email is becoming less of a serious concern - although still a threat, none-the-less.

__________________
For example, I find that a lot of college girls are barbie doll carbon copies with few differences...Sadly, they're dumb, ditzy, immature, snotty, fake, or they are the gravitational center to orbiting drama. - Amnesia620

bendsley

I haven't checked out the site yet, but I will just because I bashed it. If I sounded offended, I wasn't. No worries mate.

Good day!

__________________
"You hear the one about the fella who died, went to the pearly gates? St. Peter let him in. Sees a guy in a suit making a closing argument. Says, "Who's that?" St. Peter says, "Oh, that's God. Thinks he's Denny Crane."

the_marq

I researched it enough to question its legitimacy. I read the privacy statement and found it seriously lacking, then I posted here for more information and comments from experienced users. Isn't that the point

__________________
The Truth:

Johnny Cash could have kicked Bruce Lee's ass if he wanted to.

#3 in a series

Amnesia620

Fair enough. If you say you have, then you have. You should contact the people who operate/maintain http://www.Bebo.com and voice your concerns. I'm a little curious to see if they will respond with the same/similar answers they give you as they have given me.

__________________
For example, I find that a lot of college girls are barbie doll carbon copies with few differences...Sadly, they're dumb, ditzy, immature, snotty, fake, or they are the gravitational center to orbiting drama. - Amnesia620

the_marq

So you are suggesting that I send an email to someone I suspect is a spammer and ask them nicely to confirm that they are or are not spammers?


No I don't think so.

But you may have a point, and I would like to hear the good side of bebo.com, so tell me:

How is this bebo.com service better than my address book in gmail, or Thunderbird or anywhere else for that matter?
What's in it for bebo.com? Are they doing this as a free public service?

__________________
The Truth:

Johnny Cash could have kicked Bruce Lee's ass if he wanted to.

#3 in a series

Amnesia620

I'm not trying to promote bebo.com. I was only mentioning that I, and a good amount of people I know, are using bebo.com. The benefit is that we all can keep in touch with eachother, it's simple to use and understand, etc. Some of the people who use bebo.com are older and not internet-savvy, this site is one of the easiest I've seen.
It is a free service. As I stated before, it's optional what information you enter.

However, your concerns are completely valid. You take this risk with ANY site you enter or use your email address with.

At this point in time, this site doesn't spam or use a person's email address for anything other than the service(s) (notifications, etc.) you authorize that you would like to receive.

__________________
For example, I find that a lot of college girls are barbie doll carbon copies with few differences...Sadly, they're dumb, ditzy, immature, snotty, fake, or they are the gravitational center to orbiting drama. - Amnesia620

Hardknock

I'm going to chime in. I have no use for an online address book. There are just too many privacy concerns as far as I'm concerned. I'm going to have to side with bendsley on this one. I'll keep my address info in Thunderbird. I'm just not comfortable at all with some 3rd party site keeping all my email addresses. They may say that they'll keep that information private, but at any time they can change their mind and start spamming you.

I'm sure that's in the user agreement somewhere.

Amnesia620

The only reason I said anything in the first place was to point out that many people I know have been using it and we have not received anything from them as of YET. I wasn't saying it couldn't happen...

__________________
For example, I find that a lot of college girls are barbie doll carbon copies with few differences...Sadly, they're dumb, ditzy, immature, snotty, fake, or they are the gravitational center to orbiting drama. - Amnesia620