Online Targeted Advertising: Virgin Media and Phorm Scam

Hi All

Sorry, but while this is not eCS or OS/2 related it could be of interest 
to those among us who are Virgin Media customers.

It recently came to my attention that Virgin Media intend to SELL data 
pertaining to their customers internet use to a company called Phorm who 
will then use it to bombard said customers with targeted advertising 
based on that data.


I queried Virgin Media on this and received the following response:-


Hello Mr Brown

REFERENCE : 2701767

Thank you for your e-mail dated 5 March 2008 regarding the information
you have received about Phorm. I am sorry for the delay in responding
which has been the result of a small back-log. This has been addressed.

I am sorry you are unhappy with the information. All Virgin Media
customer will have the option whether  to use this service and when it
is launched our customers will be advised of the opt our procedure.

Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience this matter has caused.


If you have further queries regarding this matter or any other issue,
please use the link provided below:

www.virginmedia.com/contact

Please note if you reply directly to this e-mail your response will not
be received.

Kind regards


Helen Atkinson
E-Contact Team
Virgin Media





Be Warned!

1] Any Virgin Media customer who does not fancy this idea needs to OPT 
OUT in advance - if enough people take this course then the Virgin 
Media/Phorm deal will be dead before it even starts.

2] The above response reads as though the scam will start BEFORE 
customers are given the OPT OUT option. This will make sure that a 
little of every customers data can be sold to Phorm who will probably 
continue to use the data even after OPT OUT.

To OPT OUT in advance you need to go to the VM contact us page 
www.virginmedia.com/contact

You need to enter something similar to this to OPT OUT (copy'n'paste if 
you want):-


I have heard that you intend to sell data pertaining to my internet use 
to another company who will then use that data to bombard me with online 
adverts.

I do NOT agree with this.

I am instructing you NOW that I wish to OPT OUT of this scheme. You will 
not sell any of my internet use data to anyone, ever.

Should Virgin Media ignore my OPT OUT I will have no hesitation in 
taking Legal Action in this matter.



Hope the above is of use to others.

Thanks for the warning. I use VirginMobile, apparently a subsidiary since 
there's a link on the web site you provided, for my cell phone in the USA. 
I's sending a message similar to your template.

Thanks for the warning. I use VirginMobile, apparently a subsidiary since 
there's a link on the web site you provided, for my cell phone in the USA. 
I's sending a message similar to your template.

Thanks for the warning. I use VirginMobile, apparently a subsidiary since 
there's a link on the web site you provided, for my cell phone in the USA. 
I's sending a message similar to your template.

Just an FYI from a guy who has been working in the telecom industry for 25 
years.  Most Cell providers sell their lists to outside marketing firms.

If you are not happy with this, suggest you switch over to Verizon.  Verizon 
Wireless has a long standing policy that they will NEVER sell your account 
info/numbers to any outsiders.

They believe it is an infringement on their customers privacy.

Regards,

-Steve M.
www.colorado.cyberwize.com

"Craig Colby" <ccolby@ipns.com> wrote in message 
news:abaacf186d9945fb5cb3eeef68248be2$1@news.ecomstation.com...
> Thanks for the warning. I use VirginMobile, apparently a subsidiary since 
> there's a link on the web site you provided, for my cell phone in the USA.

> I's sending a message similar to your template.
>