Reality checking: JREF email offer?

[Simon Bridge]

I didn't know the JREF did this sort of thing...
(email this morning)

Dear Simon,

As a special thank-you to our online supporters, we would like to invite you to enter to win an iPad 2 with the new ebook version of James Randi’s classic Flim-Flam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions. You can enter in our drawing right now online »

The brand new, factory sealed, black, 16GB, Wifi iPad 2 has been generously given to the JREF for this drawing by an anonymous donor in support of our new digital publishing efforts.

Entry in the drawing is free. Once you’ve entered, you can improve your chances of winning by helping us promote skepticism and critical thinking by recommending the Flim-Flam! ebook to your friends and family.

There's a link to a convio.net page.
The headers seem sane enough though.
reply-to is D J Groeth which is jref at jref.org
mail originates at a convio server. mailid is some java thing.

A quick search does not show anyone talking about this either way.

There are a lot of phishing attempts masquerading as iPad competitions, and spoofed mail is not uncommon either so the usual advise is not to click any links that appear in unsolicited emails.

The same mail suggests increasing your chances in the competition by sending e-cards to all your friends. Advertising by chain letter now?

This all seems quite extraordinary.

Surely if JREF is to legitimately use a promotion like this to it's members they would choose some approach that takes into account the peculiarities of the demographic: skeptics?

Before acting on this - I want to check.
I'm sure everyone understands.

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Do NOT respond to this e-mail


because, if you do so, it will decrease other people's my chances of winning!

;)

[DJGrothe]

Hi guys, yes, it is real, and I am happy to say we have received a larger-than-predicted response so far.

I invite you to answer the email, and to get involved.

To answer your specific question: Convio is the constituent messaging service the JREF uses (as do many other national nonprofits such as American Red Cross, United Negro College Fund, Heritage Foundation, Sierra Club, NPR, PETA, Human Rights Campaign, National Organization for Women, PBS, World Wildlife Fund, ACLU, Center for Inquiry, New York Public Library, etc.).

Thanks for helping us spread the word about our digital publishing efforts — getting Randi's and other important works of skepticism more widely distributed is a project that excites us — and "good luck" if you do decide to enter the contest.

Cheers,

D.J.

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Hi guys, yes, it is real, and I am happy to say we have received a larger-than-predicted response so far.

I invite you to answer the email, and to get involved.

To answer your specific question: Convio is the constituent messaging service the JREF uses (as do many other national nonprofits such as American Red Cross, United Negro College Fund, Heritage Foundation, Sierra Club, NPR, PETA, Human Rights Campaign, National Organization for Women, PBS, World Wildlife Fund, ACLU, Center for Inquiry, New York Public Library, etc.).

Thanks for helping us spread the word about our digital publishing efforts — getting Randi's and other important works of skepticism more widely distributed is a project that excites us — and "good luck" if you do decide to enter the contest.

Cheers,

D.J.

Spoilsport! ;)

[Simon Bridge]

Thanks - due diligence done.

Of course it is not actually possible to produce a standard to writing a "clearly not a scam" email ... since the scammers will just adopt it. It must frustrate Nigerian diplomats who want to smuggle funds out of the country.

[SkepticScott]

D.J. could publish his GPG public key and sign all email. That would show source and integrity. Any spoof email would fail the verification.

[arthwollipot]

I have no problem with this offer, and have entered the draw. I have a small problem with the idea of spamming it out to everyone I know in return for extra chances to win, but whatever.

[DevilsAdvocate]

I have no problem with this offer, and have entered the draw. I have a small problem with the idea of spamming it out to everyone I know in return for extra chances to win, but whatever.

It doesn't have to be people you like. Maybe try uri@urigeller.com. :D

[arthwollipot]

Hmm. What's Sylvia Browne's email address?

[welshdean]

Hi guys, yes, it is real, and I am happy to say we have received a larger-than-predicted response so far.

I invite you to answer the email, and to get involved.

To answer your specific question: Convio is the constituent messaging service the JREF uses (as do many other national nonprofits such as American Red Cross, United Negro College Fund, Heritage Foundation, Sierra Club, NPR, PETA, Human Rights Campaign, National Organization for Women, PBS, World Wildlife Fund, ACLU, Center for Inquiry, New York Public Library, etc.).

Thanks for helping us spread the word about our digital publishing efforts — getting Randi's and other important works of skepticism more widely distributed is a project that excites us — and "good luck" if you do decide to enter the contest.

Cheers,

D.J.


Association fallacy
;)

[rjh01]

Hmm. What's Sylvia Browne's email address?

Well here is her facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sylvia-Browne/196312131222

There would be an e-mail address associated with it.

[welshdean]

Why haven't I had the email?

[SkepticScott]

Welshdean,
You don't need the email. You can register from http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/jref-news/1453-enter-to-win-an-ipad-2-and-flim-flam-ebook.html

[welshdean]

Welshdean,
You don't need the email. You can register from http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/jref-news/1453-enter-to-win-an-ipad-2-and-flim-flam-ebook.html

Thanks,
When I win I'll let you read 'flim-flam'. :D

[Rrose Selavy]

Why haven't I had the email?

Your chosen forum description is misleading so you have been excluded from all JREF contact.
Oh, and the software doesn't recognise Wales. :D

[Soapy Sam]

Well here is her facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sylvia-Browne/196312131222

There would be an e-mail address associated with it.


Don't spam Slyvia.
There's a chance she might win- imagine the claims- "I won the JREF prize."