Stopping Overseas Fax Spam?

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?"

Comments

Aren't fax machines old school?

[HBI]

Seems to me that you could just rig up a computer to accept faxes, using ANI or caller id to refuse to accept anything you didn't get valid info for.

Set the jobs to auto-print and you are set. Use the old fax machine for outbounds only, rig it to not answer.

Woops, sorry, this solution requires more effort than plugging the machine into the wall. How could I have even brought it up.

Re:Spam him back

[ottothecow]

I called the first time...she said reservations and I said that I would like to reserve some travel. She said something like she didnt know what I needed and hung up. I called again and said "I'm sorry, we seem to have been disconnected" to which she replied "I hung up on you because you dont know what you need"

does anyone know what these people want to sell me so that I can lead them on a bit more?

International Law anyone

[Prince Vegeta SSJ4]

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.

Now, I don't know about some third world countries, but isn't there a treaty that says something like "If a law is illegal in our country, your 'citizen' can't do it in our country.

How much does this cost THEM?

[Em Ellel]

Ok, one thing I am missing, how much does it cost them? I mean f they are sending the faxes from UK, it will be too costly, but if they are sending it via some sort of internet relay, go after the relay - they are in the US and must obey laws. What am i missing here?

-Em

Re:Spam him back

[CptChipJew]

I just called and it hung up as soon as it answered.

Congratulations, in 5 minutes they're already Slashdotted beyong annoyance!

Stupid Question..

[\\]

Why don't fax machines have whitelisting or blacklisting capabilities? Or do they?

Re:Sure

[chimpo13]

I called. It rang once and went silent. Tried calling again, some guy answered. I asked if they'd gotten tons of calls, and he said nope. But he's "looking forward to it because that's what we do". Not sure what he meant, I suppose I should try calling again.

Count me in.

[Mustang Matt]

I was a victim. I finally got so pissed off at them coming in at 2-4am to my home phone that doesn't even have a fax machine hooked up that I changed my number... Unfortunately the new number belonged to some guy that is in huge debt with his creditors and they call constently. Also I forgot that I would no longer be on Missouri's no call list so telemarketers were calling quite a bit too. I think no call has kicked in because the calls seem to have dropped. The were almost all automated calls which is interesting because before the MO No Call list most telemarketing was done by live people.

If you guys want to organize a day where we call all the 800 numbers of spammers and junk faxers count me in. I've got a couple of numbers I've been collecting that I can throw into the pool.

Fax Broadcasting WORKS, people

[mcrbids]

If it didn't, people wouldn't do it.

I know somebody who runs a fax list. He's very religeous about getting you off his lists right away if you want off, but he's more liberal than I would prefer about what constitutes "opt in"...

It works.

He's getting business - lots of it. In his own words, he's "on a roll". It's cheaper and more effective to send junk faxes than to post legitimate ads in the trade magazines!

He's not selling penis pills or anything like that - just an independent broker promoting his services, which services he otherwise competently provides.

He'll continue this until the money runs out, like anybody else in his position.

I just called

[SethJohnson]

The phone was answered by a non-british accented woman. Probably american accent. She said it was not Flamingo Travel but it is a travel agency.

Here's the deal. This is probably being done by an aggregator. The spammer is probably giving out a specific 1-800 number that forwards to a 'reputable' travel agency. Whatever is booked off this phone number is then given a commission to the spammer. It might even be a flat commission on the number of calls, completely ignoring the sales made. So, essentially, it could be like a banner click-thru deal and by us calling, the spammer is making mega-bling.

In any case, if you're going to call this number, be sure to alert the person that you are simply calling to complain about the faxes. This will help the travel people understand that the garbage calls they are receiving are the result of unpleasant and intrusive advertising practices.

Update on Flamingo's Website

[Alex711]

Click on the website of the site and you will get the following message (It's probably a good idea to calm down now): We have been recieving phone calls from people angry that we are sending them fax specials like $99 to Disney and Kids Free. Please know that they are NOT coming from Flamingo Travel Group in Pennsylvania. They are coming from a company in Florida calling themselves Flamingo Travel. Their phone number is 1-800-328-9795 and they sell time shares. FILE YOUR COMPLAINT: http://ftp.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/unwantedfaxes .html ***We do not send faxed specials...ever...period.*** ***We do not send email blasts...we only send email to people that ask for it*** ***We remove people right away if they change thier mind at any time.*** ***We value our privacy and we would never violate yours by sharing privledged contact information. *** ***We have nothing to do with time shares. Personally, I think they are a bad idea*** A reputable Travel Company will provide you with: 1. A Physical Address of thier place of business. 2. Their phone, fax and email information. 3. Their IATA number. 4. They will never ask for your income information...it's none of thier business. 5. Any reputable company should allow you time to check them out, offer information to help you check them out and this information should be verifiable.

Re:Spam him back

[MrChuck]

1. stop using a fax machine.
   In 1993, we used Hylafax. We sent things out THROUGH it (and a row of modems) and we received faxes through it. It never needs to hit paper.
   We had a machine to send stuff OUT of on occasion (like a filled out form), but didn't take IN on that line.
   In days of yore, we just showed the first page and someone could route it by that. Privacy issues were pretty moot as it was replacing a pile of paper that the administrators (secretaries) piled through).
   Junk Fax? Delete.
   Need to have it on paper? Fine, print it. About 20% ever needed to become paper.

A Friend ordered some new modem (28.8kb). Needed it the next day. Coached them on how to send it international (he was in canada for 2 weeks on a job site with no access). "Sir, we do this all the time." And yet they screwed it up. Nothing in the promised AM. Noon. PM. The next morning, he's written a long 4 page screed. In large print, 3 thrice a page, he has in 100 pt font, "Call me: My number is..."
Prints it on a trusty dotmatrix as one sheet.
He "dials around" the tech supports local(ish) direct number until he gets a fax squeal.
Feeds the fax. Tapes the ends together.

After 90 minutes, the phone rings. "Are you .....?"

Yes, did you get my fax? ... really? wow, my machine must be screwed up. But not like your shipping dept is. Where's my damn modem you charged me for a swore up and down would be here yesterday?

Faxing them back won't make a difference. It will cost you. Perhaps a smart fax modem program with caller ID set with an access list (ala sendmail: Block THESE countries).

Re:I think you're right

[iotashan]

No... I'm real, and I'm not on there. The whole purpose of doing this was so they would be flooded with calls about how faxes suck. Please mention that when you call. Don't buy anything!