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Another Spam Email from Majon International?

September 2003 Update: I received a phone call from the real Matthew Hesser to discuss the article published below. He's a really nice guy. We discussed the article below for around 20 minutes where he had the following feedback. I initially pulled this article, but after giving it some more thought, realized his email tactics fit my definition of spam. Decide for yourself.

Mr. Hesser's comments included:

1. Majon has been a effective online marketing company for many years and has built many applications useful to their clients.
2. The quote from Simon Hill was randomly pulled from the many unsolicited testimonials they receive from clients.

Basically, it sounds like Majon may have taken on and boasted about a relationship with a less than respectable client. They also clearly did spam Haystack In A Needle at the address listed below which is very disappointing.

At this point, I think Majon has some legitimate and interesting applications but is a bit too aggressive in their own company's marketing for my taste, but judge for yourself.

-Ed Kohler

Is Matthew Hesser of Majon International stuffing your inbox with unsolicited requests for their targeted traffic services? If you have a website and an email address you probably have. They claim to send emails only opt-in emails but that's simply not the case.

Lately, the emails have looked like this:

Notice the circle around the To: address? That address has NEVER been used to opt-in to anything. In fact, it was only added to the footer of this web site two weeks ago. It certainly didn't take them long to pick up the address and start spamming us at it.

One of their previous scams was to spam people telling them they've won the "Majon Web Select SEAL OF EXCELLENCE AWARD" which manipulated web site owners into placing a link to majon.com on their web site (the award graphic was linked back to Majon) which gives Majon a nice boost in their volume of inbound links on the naivete of web site owners.

A few examples can be found at:

• http://www.deepbluedivers.com/id28.htm
• http://bledsoeart.com/awards.html
• http://members.tripod.com/flarewithflair/awards/majon.html
• http://www.powerpageswebdesign.com/web_designer_awards_3.htm
• http://www.alternativescience.com/more_awards_1.htm

Here's another interesting fact. Have you ever checked the testimonials on a web site to find out if they were legitimate? Here's one from the Majon International Email:

Ever heard of the Armchair Tycoon? It's an MLM home based business scam run by a guy named Simon Hill:

• "It seems he [Simon Hill] already has a very bad name in the British business opportunity scene as when I spoke just now to Susan Garlick who edits an opportunity magazine she said 'Simon Hill is a well known scammer who is to be avoided at all costs'. " - worldwidescam.com
• "Armchair Tycoon Corp. is a total SCAM! This company was formerly AGM International/ Allegro Global Marketing. These are the same people, but just under a new name, Armchair Tycoon Corp. They promise the same guaranteed income and still NEVER pay anyone!" - netscams.com
• "Simon J Hill was the proprietor and has been sought for prosecution in the UK and USA for defrauding investors in a scheme called AGM International.' - adlandpro.com

Where is Armchair Tycoon discussed on Google Groups? Here are a few example forums:

• alt.business.multi-level.scam.* (1 group)
• alt.business.multi-level.scam.scam.scam
• news.admin.net-abuse.sightings

We hope that helps clarify any doubts you may have had about the legitimacy of Majon International's emails you've received.

Ed Kohler is the president and founder of Haystack In A Needle - a full service web marketing and search engine positioning firm based in Minneapolis, MN. Ed has a rule set up in his email program to filter majon.com emails directly into the trash.

Click here to submit a free quote to get started on professional web marketing planning today.

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