Tackling a Reader Comment: The Chinese Government and the Curious Case of Some Missing Data
This week, I attempt to address one of our reader’s security concerns. Below is the comment I received recently that I think needs some addressing (or address correction as the case may be). John Johnson (johnsoncrew@gmail.com) wrote:
Jim, I have a question not related to any of your current posts that I think is worth some discussion. Abacus was bought by Epsilon, who in turn is owned by Alliance Data Solutions. Alliance Data Solutions was recently bought by a private equity firm, The Blackstone Group. The Chinese government then bought a $3 billion position in The Blackstone Group. My question is: Who has my data?”
John, you bring up a good point. In fact, that makes me wonder who owns all of Abacus’ buyer files. So, I did a some research and once I got past a great deal of stonewalling, applied for top secret “eyes only” security clearance, begged my editors to have MI6 upgrade me to double 00 status, and found my magic decoder ring from 1967.
I clandestinely found out the following: After exhaustive research, the Chinese government has decided that its best avenue for taking over our government is to own the American catalog mail order buyer. Based on documents I uncovered, I found that it has an ultra covert operation in progress called “Operation Spiegel,” whereby right now it’s using spam e-mails and bogus catalogs to drive traffic to fake Web sites that have been cloned to look like our own top 100 multichannel marketing business’ e-mails.
This nefarious phishing operation makes us believe that we’re making purchases from our beloved Sundances, Sharper Images, etc., when we are, in fact, helping the Chinese government line its pockets while it plans the overthrow of our government.
What? A ‘C-USPS?’
I also found out much more than I ever wanted to about everything Chinese while I was searching for answers to John’s question. For instance, one memo I uncovered buried within thousands of documents clearly alludes to the fact that the Chinese government secretly purchased the U.S. Postal Service right before the last rate case. This explains a few things doesn’t it? Consider these other findings:
- Categories:
- Database Marketing
- Companies:
- Abacus
Jim Gilbert has had a storied career in direct and digital marketing resulting in a burning desire to tell stories that educate, inform, and inspire marketers to new heights of success.
After years of marketing consulting, Jim decided it was time to “put his money where his mouth was" and build his own e-commerce company, Premo Natural Products, with its flagship product, Premo Guard Bed Bug & Mite Sprays. Premo in its second year is poised to eclipse 100 percent growth.
Jim has been writing for Target Marketing Group since 2006, first on the pages of Catalog Success Magazine, then as the first blogger for its online division. Jim continues to write for Total Retail.
Along the way, Jim has led the Florida Direct Marketing Association as their Marketing Chair and then three-term President, been an Adjunct Professor of Direct and Digital marketing for Miami International University, and created a lecture series, “The 9 Immutable Laws of Social Media Marketing,” which he has presented across the country at conferences and universities.
