I just thought I'd set up a topic for my favorite TA spammer, Christopher Woolson from Philly. Chris wears many hats he is a travel agent for Flamingo Travel and also their webmaster. He has spammed here once in the past and again just recently, until he was uncovered. Like he was on Frommers by me and the post has been deleted. He is now answering questions with the company's website attached at the end, advertising here basically. He is posting here as [email protected] but if you really want a laugh do a deja search of [email protected] and read the posts to all different NG's, everything from vacations with his wife to his going on Gay/Lesiban cruises and all of these posts have the Flamingo Travel website in them. Below is his 1st post from last year. <BR>Author: Chris ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 8/19/1999, 11:17 am ET <BR>Message: Tammy... I keep online journals through a local agency site (http://www.flamingo-travel.com/virtual_vacations) which I just updated with journals and photos of Ireland.&gt;&gt;&gt; <BR>Yes Chris, the local travel agency *YOU* work for! <BR> <BR>

Author: Chris ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 7/17/2000, 10:40 am ET <BR>Message: I just signed up for a hosted 2-week trip to Italy in February and thought I'd pass the site along for those interested: http://www.flamingo-travel.com/groups/ <BR>My wife and I decided to head to Europe but didn't want to sit on a bus. After a few days of searching the Internet, she found this company that is hosting their own tour -- getting us there and traveling with us but leaving the sightseeing up to each person. We think its an excellent opportunity to see Europe and get to know the culture rather than sitting on a bus, listening to English-speaking tour guides. <BR>&lt;&lt;&lt;Yes Chris, the travel agency *YOU* work for. You can see a picture of Chris and a bio on their website, just click-on "Our Agents" and scroll down to Chris. <BR>

Chris now at least tells the truth, don't we all after we're caught and answers a post with his company's website URL at the end. Can we say *NO* advertising on Fodor's Forum??? <BR>"...watch other passengers do it and you'll see. This validates your ticket which is also a must. <BR>Best of luck, <BR>Chris (http://www.flamingo-travel.com/virtu...italy_day1.asp) <BR> <BR>

I also did a deja search of <BR>just the name "Christopher Woolson", I found this website www.flamingo-travel.com/mommyslight/ it was posted on pdaxs.services.children <BR> Honestly, I pray it was done with the children in mind and not to promote his travel agency. Since Nov 10, 99 it has raised $7.10. <BR>

Author: chris <BR>Organized your tour Chris??? Local Agency??? Don't you mean thru the Travel Agency **YOU** work for Spammer...([email protected]) <BR>Date: 7/18/2000, 8:58 am ET <BR>Message: I've taken a pre-packaged tour and have to agree with the previous comment that it was "hectic." The packing and re-packing, making the bus, trains and hydrofoils. Gotta get here by this time and eat at that time. <BR>With that, I've organized my own trip to Italy leaving 2/24/2001 for two weeks of semi-independent travel. My local agent has worked with me to secure groups rates and I want to introduce first-timers to this experience. <BR>For $1850 per person we'll start in Venice for a few days, the tour operator picking us up at the airport and taking us to Venice where we'll walk through town to our hotel. Everyone explores the city on there own by venturing out from the hotel as they feel comfortable. <BR>My colleague and I will then get everyone together to get to the train station, walking of course or those that wish can hire a "water taxi" (vaporetto?) We'll head to Florence to do the same. <BR>Throughout the trip we'll have dinner with everyone at one point or another to discuss their trip, what they've seen, talk about cultural differences, etc. We want everyone to experience the culture rather than sit on a bus listening to an English-speaking guide. <BR>If anyone is interested, you can email me or check out &lt;A HREF='http://www.flamingo-travel.com/groups/'&gt;http://www.flamingo-travel.com/groups/&lt;/A&gt; <BR> <BR> <BR>

FODORS -- could we have some intervention here, please? This is the kind of 'stuff' that warps the U.S. forum . . .

FODORS -- one more example . . . <BR> <BR>Author: chris ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 7/18/2000, 8:58 am ET <BR> <BR>Message: I've taken a pre-packaged tour and have to agree with the previous comment that it was "hectic." The packing and re-packing, making the bus, trains and hydrofoils. Gotta get here by this time and eat at that time. <BR> <BR>With that, I've organized my own trip to Italy leaving 2/24/2001 for two weeks of semi-independent travel. My local agent has worked with me to secure groups rates and I want to introduce first-timers to this experience. <BR> <BR>For $1850 per person we'll start in Venice for a few days, the tour operator picking us up at the airport and taking us to Venice where we'll walk through town to our hotel. Everyone explores the city on there own by venturing out from the hotel as they feel comfortable. <BR> <BR>My colleague and I will then get everyone together to get to the train station, walking of course or those that wish can hire a "water taxi" (vaporetto?) We'll head to Florence to do the same. <BR> <BR>Throughout the trip we'll have dinner with everyone at one point or another to discuss their trip, what they've seen, talk about cultural differences, etc. We want everyone to experience the culture rather than sit on a bus listening to an English-speaking guide. <BR> <BR>If anyone is interested, you can email me or check out &lt;A HREF='http://www.flamingo-travel.com/groups/'&gt;http://www.flamingo-travel.com/groups/&lt;/A&gt; <BR> <BR>

ohplease: This is how we stop them and keep this site spam free. I'm a regular poster here and always use my true e-mail address *except* when exposing spammers. Because they might "mail bomb" me/you! This spammer is really low class and stupid, esp if you check out his deja posts. You see he tied in his true e-mail addy plus the Travel Agency's URL with that "christobol" address on Frommers. <BR>And a deja search just ice's the cake). Cheers, NO SPAM ON FODORS,*NEVER* SPAMMER <BR> <BR> <BR>

<BR>I think we got your message quite some time ago. I have bigger fish to fry than worrying about a spammer. Besides, I think most of us are not as dense as you think. Give it a rest, please. Write to Fodors if you wish to be a cyberpolice recruit.

Keep going, whoever.Don't stop till they do - no point in complaining then shutting up.Fodors don't purge this site often, spammers have an opportunity if nobody says anything. <BR>I had to do similar recently for a technical board which was filling up with new product "release notices".After a few anon. postings on the poor quality of their products, they stopped.I see you have not gone that far (congrats on your integrity) but spammers should know the perils they face if someone decides to take an interest. <BR>(PS - how long till "anonymous" posts a reply agreeing with himself?Says he's to busy to bother with spammers, but not anti-spammers.Strange....) <BR>

Anonymous: I am not posting these to anyone except to the Chris/Flamingo Travel. When he goes away so does this topic. If *I* don't like a topic, guess what I don't read it or post my comments about it, it's really very simple. <BR> How can Fodors stop 1 person from posting with fake e-mail addresses, anonymously, and thru a ISP like Hotmail, Deja, etc. They can't and they could spam this site forever. But if you post their lies who is going to trust that company and they will go away because of the bad PR. <BR> Dense?, I thought my 1st sentence in my 1st post explained what I was doing. <BR> Cyberpolice Recruit? and that would make you a "Moderator Trainee"? <BR> Well anyway, thanks for taking the time away from your " big fish fry" to respond! <BR> Also thanks for the support Frank. <BR> And Good Morning Chris, who will probaby come on-line this morning from the travel agency to spam and see we have a Topic about him and his company.

Chris is at it again trying to seduce innocent consumers by posing as normal human, not a scavenger, do anything for the money business man that he is. I think we really ought to warn people who may be new to the forum...