On a recent visit to New York City, vendors lined the streets, hawking counterfeit designer purses. At first glance, the bags seem genuine—but the illusion shattered upon closer scrutiny. All you have to do is touch the “leather,” examine the stitches, and check the lining to see you’re dealing with a fake.
Many of the email lists on the market today have the same authenticity problem. On the surface, they may seem impressive but the allure quickly fades when you take a closer look. The lists may be pieced together from unreliable sources and even if the addresses were at one time valid, by now they are out of date.