OT: Received email from BrightCrowd about confirming my UM Diectory info

Submitted by jamesjosephharbaugh on

Today I received a message from a company called BrightCrowd with the subject "Confirm your information in the Michigan directory".  

WARNING: THIS IS NOT THE MICHIGAN DIRECTORY. 

I looked at the website and they are essentially building a new social network, looks sort of like LinkedIn.  

Their website says they "partner" with universities but I don't know if they are partnered with UM or if they are just grabbing email addresses from the public directory. 

Couple things I found interesting from their site:

Why does BrightCrowd need Gmail access?

By analyzing your aggregated email data BrightCrowd can map your real-life social network and connect you to people who can help you out. It’s tres high-tech :)

and, from their terms of service

To make the Service useful to you and others: As a user of the Service, Personal Information that you’ve entered may be visible to other users and visitors. This information typically includes your name, title, job, school, skills and location, as well as any items you’ve posted publicly to the Service. Additionally, to help make it easier for you to connect with others, the Service will show you common connections with other users based on contact data from your Connected Accounts.

 

I'm not saying they are bad, maybe their service is useful.  But I think it's a bit shady that the email they sent is intended to *look* like a request to confirm your directory information, even though the body of the email says they are launching an "unofficial" michigan directory.

Anyone else get this email?  My recommendation is: approach with caution.  I don't plan to join. 

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Recruiting

LSAClassOf2000

August 14th, 2018 at 11:00 AM ^

I have not gotten this e-mail, but if someone wants to relieve me of the constant e-mails from my parents of odd things which have appeared in their garden, they are certainly welcome to those e-mails, just not through a service which demands open access to my account. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

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Arb lover

August 14th, 2018 at 11:30 AM ^

I received an email about brightcrowd maybe 6 months ago, from the UM business school or alumni group, I can't recall, but it appeared fairly legit, an actual partnership. I think they are trying to build a more skill oriented and boni fide recruiting/networking tool, using the early Facebook/early adopter/exclusivity method.

I don't allow 3rd party programs to have access to my email, so that was a dealbreaker for me. That, and I'm not looking for employment and know where to find decent talent when I need it.

Joined: 11/26/2017

MGoPoints: 6915

lhglrkwg

August 14th, 2018 at 11:53 AM ^

I recall the same - though I can't find the email anymore. I thought I got en email via umich or via the alumni association at least initially because I don't think I would've even clicked the link if it hadn't come from someone associated with UofM first and I definitely remember checking it out

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 87913

Expert In Bird Law

August 14th, 2018 at 12:02 PM ^

I got an email from them in January titled "Hey, one of your Michigan friends thinks your smart" then started by saying "Your popular, a classmate just added you on BrightCrowd"

 

So yeah this is 100% spam

Joined: 01/03/2017

MGoPoints: 1309

InterM

August 14th, 2018 at 12:50 PM ^

I also got this e-mail recently.  Saw the disclaimer that it wasn't affiliated with or endorsed by the university, so I deleted it.  The OP's additional investigation confirms my suspicion.

Joined: 01/16/2009

MGoPoints: 2257