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Stopping Overseas Fax Spam?

Posted by Cliff on from the looks-like-spam-and-smells-like-spam dept.

iotashan asks: "Likely for most businesses, unsolicited faxes have become quite a problem. They needlessly use up toner and paper, and are usually just scams anyway. Specifically, we are receiving faxes from a company called Flamingo Travel. Now, they appear to bug business across the US, and some innocent parties are falling victim. I have used their automated system for having my fax number removed, to no avail. Is my only weapon having a bunch of friends call this 800 number to make the company's overseas toll-free phone bill unbearable?"

"The latest fax listed a number to call to take advantage of the offer (800-328-9795), so I called it and asked to be removed. The woman took down my number, but rather smugly told me that they are in England so they do not have to obey the US unsolicited fax laws. She wouldn't provide me with any other company information, and then stopped answering calls from my number after repeated hang-ups. The FCC says that it is a civil matter, and to go through the courts. The Fax Preference Service in the UK says they cannot help people outside the UK. Do I have nowhere to turn except an expensive lawyer, armed with no information about the company?"

5 of 439 comments (clear)

  1. Consistency here will be key by Humba · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think we should have a consistent answer to the guy who answers the 800 number. Something like "Sorry, wrong number. Bork bork." ?

    --H

  2. Reminds me of an old trick by youngerpants · · Score: 5, Funny

    tape 2 a4 sheets of black paper together lengthways, feed into fax machine and send. When the fax starts to feed through, tape together into a loop and leave it.

    That'll use up their toner :)

  3. Yes by ArchieBunker · · Score: 5, Funny

    We kept getting junk faxes from some company with a 1-800 reply number. Well created a blank 250 page word doc that was nothing but a black background. It took half an hour to send the whole thing and I let it run for a few hours. Never heard back from them again.

    --
    Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
  4. A question of scale. by mikeophile · · Score: 5, Funny
    Is my only weapon having a bunch of friends call this 800 number to make the company's overseas toll-free phone bill unbearable?


    Not a bad weapon if you consider Slashdot a bunch of friends.

    Wonder-slash powers activate!


    Form of a massive 800 number DoSing!


    Shape of a six digit phone bill!

  5. Somethings definitely up with these people by CptChipJew · · Score: 5, Funny

    I called, heard the phone pick up, "Reservations". So I said "I need reservations", and she hung up on me. Then I called back again and they picked up with no response. I said "Hello?", and they hung up.

    So then I called and said "You're gonna die bitch". And then heard a bunch of women laughing.

    --
    Vonal Declosion