Monday, March 9, 2015

When is a rose NOT a rose?


A number of Amateur Radio related items have crossed my computer screen lately making themselves look inviting, and as though they are a part of a larger organization. It’s what the ad (email) didn’t say that drew the skepticism out in me. Remember, it’s ALWAYS about the details.. If it boasts that it’s going to be a bigger, better or more advanced thing than what I have now, you owe it to yourself to check it out thoroughly before you waste your time with it.. Please, please don’t trust anything that is sent to you unsolicited. Be skeptical!! If it can’t be verified through other sources that it’s legit, it isn’t. 

Here’s just one such example.. I received an invitation from a ham in Germany to join in on QRZCQ. Now I have to tell ya’ this email looked like it may have come from someone acting on the behalf of QRZ. Trust me, they weren’t!!

I followed the link in the email and discovered a website that looks similar to what QRZ used to look like.. Now, you notice that I said it looked similar.  I figured that if it really was a part of QRZ there would be something on the QRZ website explaining about it. There was, here’s what I found..

“Lately several of our users have written us to complain about unsolicited email (SPAM) that they have received from the site QRZCQ asking if we had something to do with it.

The short answer is "NO", because QRZCQ isn't related to QRZ in any way, except for one. The one thing they have in common with us is the callsign data, which was lifted off the QRZ website without our permission. They claim that someone "gave them the data" (it wasn't hacked), and so therefore they feel entitled to use it. We have absolute, irrefutable proof that the data they have originated from QRZ.

Please tell anyone who mentions QRZCQ that it is just another copycat website who appropriated our name and our data in an attempt to confuse people and siphon off some of our web traffic. If QRZCQ were located in the United States, they would be quickly shut down by the courts and the problems and SPAM that they proliferate would cease to exist.

And as always, I wish to express my sincere gratitude for all those who visit and use the Real QRZ every day. It is users like you that help to make QRZ the number one web site in all of amateur radio.

73 -fred
 
Fred Lloyd, AA7BQ
Publisher, QRZ.COM

If the offer you receive is making itself look like it’s associated with a known larger company, look for that company’s logos on the new site. Also, look for links from the company’s main site. If it’s something that they are supporting, then there should be a link from their main site to it. In the case of the ARRL for example, look for the very familiar League Diamond, or links from the Great Lakes Division or Ohio Section to it. Do your homework. If it’s legit it will be proud to display the proper logos and links. Don’t trust anything that can’t be verified.

Like I tell the folks in the Ohio Section Cabinet..   “and hey… let’s be careful out there..”  - Phil Esterhouse – Hill Street Blues         

Just remember.. Have FUN… but be SAFE!!!   

73,

Scott…