Gossip

Condom? Spam? Eveshame?

Can it really be? An unsolicited advertisement from Evesham Micro, offering a computer to someone who didn't agree to receive offers? That's what the packets seem to contain:

Well, it looks like spam, it smells like spam, and it quacks ... erm, well, like spam doesn't quack. From those people who offered to give students free condoms comes this offer:

Subject: September offers from Evesham Technology

Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2003 17:53:39 +0100 (BST)

From: promotions@evesham.com

To: emailaddress@domain.co.uk

OFFER OF THE MONTH!

Axis 2600+ Special ... and so on ...

It does say: "If you have received this email in error then please accept our sincerest apologies, this error may have occurred through another person entering your email address or a database provider not washing their data correctly." Yes, we understand. It's an accident. We know how this can happen.

But our recipient doesn't. "Looking at their MX records, it shows they are also a Message Labs customer. They should be ashamed of themselves. I assume this must mean their business is in dire straits?" he said angrily.

Oh, surely not?

(I suppose someone ought to tell the bright kids at Evesham that students get condoms free, anyway?)