Banking: UK financial services spam revs up for Christmas spending spree
When were reported here on the rapidly growing trend for marketing consumer loans and credit cards by unsolicited e-mail, apparently distributed by the same e-mail company, there was surprisingly little reaction to it. In fact, only one company responded and it did not confirm or deny that the spamming campaign was authorised. Now, with one shopping day to Christmas, Capital One, known for its products targeting those with less than stellar credit ratings is the focus of a last minute customer grab by the same marketing outfit.
Using another name and address but with their mail bearing tell-tale signs that it is the same organisation, the spam (which we define as any unsolicited commercial mail, regardless of any definition in law) is designed to grab those at the bottom of the financial pyramid.
"Build your rating with up to 1500 GBP limit, response in 60 seconds" says the subject line of a mail purportedly from CapitalOne and with an e-mail address of capitalone@officialupdate.co.uk.
The e-mail address to which it has been addressed has, we believe, been harvested by illegal access to a website as such action breaches the terms of access and, therefore, permission to enter is revoked.
This time, the mail purports to come from "OfficialUpdate Incorporated, Unit 103, 10 Gt. Russell St, London, WC1B 3BQ" with an internet domain of officialupdate.co.uk.
Strangely, for a business which purports to be acting on behalf of a reputable financial institution, it has no "Google Presence." Moreover, the address it gives is that of Mailboxes, etc., a mail drop. Again, hardly what one would expect of a business commissioned by a reputable financial institution.
The spam reads:
Capital One Classic Credit Card
[link removed]
Get control over your finances with this low-limit, easy-to-manage credit card. Great if you want to build or rebuild your Credit Rating.
Capital One Classic Credit Benefits:
(34.9% APR Typical Variable)
[link removed]
- Low, easy-to-manage credit limit from £200
- Choose your own credit card design
- Identity Theft Protection
- Purchase protection insurance
- Apply now and get a response within 60 seconds!
APPLY NOW!
[link removed]
Other Capital One Benefits
- Register for email alerts to help you stay in control
- Identity theft protection
- Online account management with paperless statements
- Purchase protection insurance
- Free Equifax credit reports
- Free purchase protection insurance
APPLY NOW!
[link removed]
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Capital One's media relations office is not yet at its desk this morning. It is noticeable that the spams for this and other campaigns are issued at or after closing time for most UK businesses, ensuring maximum time for effect.
Of course, the spammers expect to make a profit.
And this is how it works: Capital One operates an "affiliate program" which is administered by Commission Junction. When someone applies for a credit card (not, note, when a credit card is issued) Commission Junction pay GBP8 to the affiliate which markets the product.
Although such marketing schemes expressly state that marketing by unsolicited e-mail is not permitted, the approach is widely adopted.
Egg / Egg Credit Cards which have previously featured in our reviews of this subject are also marketed via Commission Junction.
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