Pills, porn and poker
Encyclopedia
Pills, porn and poker, the so-called 3 Ps, are the most common forms of business which use E-mail spam
and other forms of spamvertising
. In many cases, these sites are of dubious legality, and are often fronts for fraud
.
The "pills" sold are typically treatments of impotence, such as real or purported Viagra or Cialis tablets, to be delivered without prescription, although other prescription medicines are also advertised. Some pill advertisements suggest that they can offer penis enlargement
. If the pills are actually delivered, they are typically counterfeit drugs.
Pornography websites are also heavily advertised in this way, as are (as of 2005) online poker
websites. Online Poker ads have since been reduced since the 2006 legislation that puts restrictions on online gambling
in the United States.
All of these businesses transact their business through the use of credit card
s; in many cases, the spamvertised sites are simply vehicles for credit card fraud
.
Recently, fake goods
such as fake Rolex
watches have appeared as another common category of spamvertised goods, along with OEM
software, and stock spam e-mails promoting a particular stock.
AOL
documented http://media.aoltimewarner.com/media/newmedia/cb_press_view.cfm?release_num=55253692 an "unscientific" list of the subjects of the spam most widely sent to its members during 2003. In alphabetical order:
E-mail spam
Email spam, also known as junk email or unsolicited bulk email , is a subset of spam that involves nearly identical messages sent to numerous recipients by email. Definitions of spam usually include the aspects that email is unsolicited and sent in bulk. One subset of UBE is UCE...
and other forms of spamvertising
Spamvertising
Spamvertising is the practice of sending E-mail spam, advertising a website. The word is a portmanteau of the words "spam" and "advertising".It also refers to vandalizing wikis, blogs and online forums with hyperlinks in order to get a higher search engine ranking for the vandal's website...
. In many cases, these sites are of dubious legality, and are often fronts for fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
.
The "pills" sold are typically treatments of impotence, such as real or purported Viagra or Cialis tablets, to be delivered without prescription, although other prescription medicines are also advertised. Some pill advertisements suggest that they can offer penis enlargement
Penis enlargement
Penis enlargement procedures are techniques alleged to make the human penis increase in girth, length, or hardness. Often, in the course of advertising fraudulent products, the distinction between temporary enlargement, i.e...
. If the pills are actually delivered, they are typically counterfeit drugs.
Pornography websites are also heavily advertised in this way, as are (as of 2005) online poker
Online poker
Online poker is the game of poker played over the Internet. It has been partly responsible for a dramatic increase in the number of poker players worldwide...
websites. Online Poker ads have since been reduced since the 2006 legislation that puts restrictions on online gambling
Online gambling
Online gambling, also known as Internet gambling and iGambling, is a general term for gambling using the Internet.-Online poker:Online poker tables commonly offer Texas hold 'em, Omaha, Seven-card stud, razz, HORSE and other game types in both tournament and ring game structures...
in the United States.
All of these businesses transact their business through the use of credit card
Credit card
A credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for these goods and services...
s; in many cases, the spamvertised sites are simply vehicles for credit card fraud
Credit card fraud
Credit card fraud is a wide-ranging term for theft and fraud committed using a credit card or any similar payment mechanism as a fraudulent source of funds in a transaction. The purpose may be to obtain goods without paying, or to obtain unauthorized funds from an account. Credit card fraud is also...
.
Recently, fake goods
Counterfeit
To counterfeit means to illegally imitate something. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product...
such as fake Rolex
Rolex
Rolex SA is a Swiss watchmaking manufacturer of high-quality, luxury wristwatches. Rolex watches are popularly regarded as status symbols and BusinessWeek magazine ranks Rolex No.71 on its 2007 annual list of the 100 most valuable global brands...
watches have appeared as another common category of spamvertised goods, along with OEM
OEM
OEM means the original manufacturer of a component for a product, which may be resold by another company.OEM may also refer to:-Computing:* OEM font, or OEM-US, the original character set of the IBM PC, circa 1981...
software, and stock spam e-mails promoting a particular stock.
AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
documented http://media.aoltimewarner.com/media/newmedia/cb_press_view.cfm?release_num=55253692 an "unscientific" list of the subjects of the spam most widely sent to its members during 2003. In alphabetical order:
- As seen on OprahThe Oprah Winfrey ShowThe Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
- Get biggerPenis enlargementPenis enlargement procedures are techniques alleged to make the human penis increase in girth, length, or hardness. Often, in the course of advertising fraudulent products, the distinction between temporary enlargement, i.e...
(also: satisfy your partner, improve your sex lifeHuman sexual behaviorHuman sexual activities or human sexual practices or human sexual behavior refers to the manner in which humans experience and express their sexuality. People engage in a variety of sexual acts from time to time, and for a wide variety of reasons...
) - Get out of debtDebtA debt is an obligation owed by one party to a second party, the creditor; usually this refers to assets granted by the creditor to the debtor, but the term can also be used metaphorically to cover moral obligations and other interactions not based on economic value.A debt is created when a...
(also: special offer) - Hot XXX actionPornographyPornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
(also: teens, porn) - Lowest insuranceInsuranceIn law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
rates (also: lower your insurance now) - Lowest mortgageMortgage loanA mortgage loan is a loan secured by real property through the use of a mortgage note which evidences the existence of the loan and the encumbrance of that realty through the granting of a mortgage which secures the loan...
rates (also: lower your mortgage rates, refinance, refi) - Online degreeAcademic degreeAn academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
(also: online diplomaDiploma millA diploma mill is an organization that awards academic degrees and diplomas with substandard or no academic study and without recognition by official educational accrediting bodies. The purchaser can then claim to hold an academic degree, and the organization is motivated by making a profit...
) - Online pharmacyOnline pharmacyOnline pharmacies, Internet pharmacies, or Mail Order Pharmacies are pharmacies that operate over the Internet and send the orders to customers.Online or internet pharmacies might include:...
(also: online prescriptionsMedical prescriptionA prescription is a health-care program implemented by a physician or other medical practitioner in the form of instructions that govern the plan of care for an individual patient. Prescriptions may include orders to be performed by a patient, caretaker, nurse, pharmacist or other therapist....
, meds online) - Viagra online (also: XanaxAlprazolamAlprazolam is a short-acting anxiolytic of the benzodiazepine class of psychoactive drugs. Alprazolam, like other benzodiazepines, binds to specific sites on the GABAA gamma-amino-butyric acid receptor...
, Valium, Xenical, phenterminePhenterminePhentermine, a contraction of "phenyl-tertiary-butylamine", is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class, chemically related to amphetamine. It is used medically as an appetite suppressant....
, SomaCarisoprodolCarisoprodol is a centrally-acting skeletal muscle relaxant. Carisoprodol is slightly soluble in water and freely soluble in alcohol, chloroform and acetone. The drug's solubility is practically independent of pH. Carisoprodol is manufactured and marketed in the United States by Meda Pharmaceuticals...
, Celebrex, Valtrex, Zyban, FioricetFioricetFioricet and Esgic is made from a combination of butalbital , acetaminophen , and caffeine . They are indicated for the treatment of tension headaches and muscle contraction headaches. Although not indicated, they are commonly used to treat migraines and other pain related ailments...
, Adipex, etc.) - Work from homeWork-at-home schemeA work-at-home scheme is a get-rich-quick scheme in which a victim is lured by an offer to be employed at home, very often doing some simple task in a minimal amount of time with a large amount of income that far exceeds the market rate for the type of work...
(also: be your own boss)