Dave, Thanks for the update. I am impressed with the speed of ARC's reply to their staff and volunteers in addressing the email sent out by their third party background check firm, especially when it took them so long in replying to President Harrison's correspondence. However, fact is that the solicitation email was sent out out by the background check firm. What else is American Red Cross's third party background check firm doing with the data they have collected? Are they selling lists to credit card companies for possible solicitation? Are they using the data for potential fund raising lists? It greatly concerns me that American Red Cross isn't able to control their background check firm. - Bill N3LLR -----Original Message----- From: "Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ" <dsumner@arrl.org> Subj: [arrl-odv:17256] RE: [arrl-odv:17252] MyBackgroundCheck.com Marketing Campaign Date: Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:32 pm Size: 16K To: "arrl-odv" <arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> The Red Cross has disavowed the email: The following message is from Melissa Hurst, Senior Vice President, Human Resources: Many employees and volunteers received an e-mail this morning from the Red Cross background check vendor, MyBackgroundCheck.com, which was sent in error. The message is entitled, Your American Red Cross Background Check Results. Please disregard this e-mail, as it was not an approved message from the American Red Cross. Human Resources at national headquarters has contacted the vendor who will send a subsequent e-mail to all those who received the original message notifying them of the error. No action is required on your part regarding any of these messages. We will research the situation with the vendor to determine where the error occurred and ensure that it does not happen again. We regret any confusion or disruption this has caused you; please feel free to share this message with your employees and volunteers. Thank you. From: Andy Oppel [mailto:andy@andyoppel.com] Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 8:37 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:17252] MyBackgroundCheck.com Marketing Campaign Apparently MyBackgroundCheck.com is sending an e-mail like the one shown below to everyone who had a Red Cross background check attempting to convince them to sign up for ongoing service. It says that the Red Cross does not require it, but I wonder how many will fall for it anyway? (I removed the member's name from the e-mail to protect his privacy). -- Andy Oppel, N6AJO Dear [name here], Your background check results have aged beyond 90 days and have expired. Your ability to view these results, share these results with others and to receive notification when others wish to view your report has also expired. **IMPORTANT** The American Red Cross and/or the local chapter to which you applied still have the original report on file or access to that report. No action from you is required. We realize that the ability to view and monitor your report via your personal account is important to you. Most customers also value receiving notification when others request to view their background report.. Renew your account now and continue to take advantage of these important features and benefits! Renew Reactivate Your Existing Account Regain access - View your existing report Share your existing report with others Invite others to view your report Only $4.99 per month!* $14.95 1 time fee for 90 days viewing Upgrade Upgrade your personal criminal history report to ensure accuracy and control access! U.S. Criminal Basic Scans millions of public criminal records. Updated reports delivered quarterly - monitor your public record. Notification when someone requests to view your report - grant/deny access. Check your public record for accuracy - see what others report on your name. Investigate if crimes are being committed in your name. Invite others to view your report. $9.95 /month U.S. Criminal PLUS All the benefits of our basic package PLUS Identity Theft Protection. Fraud alerts placed on your credit with all three credit bureaus - receive notification of all credit inquiries Pre-approved Credit Offers and Junk Mail Blocking - the most common method identity thieves use to steal your identity. Annual credit report included. Plus U.S. Criminal Package BEST VALUE! $14.95 /month Sincerely, The Team at MyBackgroundCheck.com MyBackgroundCheck.com, PO Box 492770 Redding, CA 96049 Tel: (800) 503.2364 ext.281 To opt-out of email marketing communications from MyBackgroundcheck.com, click here. For more information about MyBackgroundCheck.com's Privacy Policy, click here. *Monthly fee billed quarterly at $14.95 © 2008 MyBackgroundCheck..com Marketing. All rights reserved. Andy Oppel andy@andyoppel.com andy_oppel@alamedanet.net