I’m thinking text spammers are having more luck dangling Best Buy gift cards over Walmart gift cards as bait. Here’s yet another one…

“Your entry last month has WON! Goto http://www.bestbuy.com.pclm.biz/?claimid=212 and enter your Winning Code: ‘6655’ to claim your FREE $1,000 Bestbuy Giftcard!”

Don’t be fooled by the “www.bestbuy.com” in the URL: it’s actually a subdomain of “pclm.biz/.” A WHOIS look up reveals that pclm.biz is registered in the Bahamas…which, apparently, has become quite a haven for spammers. Here’s the WHOIS record:

Domain Name: PCLM.BIZ
Domain ID: D50029153-BIZ
Sponsoring Registrar: INTERNET.BS CORP.
Sponsoring Registrar IANA ID: 814
Registrar URL (registration services): www.internet.bs
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited
Registrant ID: INTEEXYARSCIDUHF
Registrant Name: Suspended Domain
Registrant Organization: Suspended by Registrar
Registrant Address1: 98 Hampshire Street
Registrant Address2: Suspended domain
Registrant City: Nassau
Registrant Postal Code: 4892
Registrant Country: Bahamas
Registrant Country Code: BS
Registrant Phone Number: +1.23456789
Registrant Email: [email protected]
Administrative Contact ID: INTETJ6J14RCN11L
Administrative Contact Name: Suspended Domain
Administrative Contact Organization: Suspended by Registrar
Administrative Contact Address1: 98 Hampshire Street
Administrative Contact Address2: Suspended domain
Administrative Contact City: Nassau
Administrative Contact Postal Code: 4892
Administrative Contact Country: Bahamas
Administrative Contact Country Code: BS
Administrative Contact Phone Number: +1.23456789
Administrative Contact Email: [email protected]
Billing Contact ID: INTEL265G713B6ZN
Billing Contact Name: Suspended Domain
Billing Contact Organization: Suspended by Registrar
Billing Contact Address1: 98 Hampshire Street
Billing Contact Address2: Suspended domain
Billing Contact City: Nassau
Billing Contact Postal Code: 4892
Billing Contact Country: Bahamas
Billing Contact Country Code: BS
Billing Contact Phone Number: +1.23456789
Billing Contact Email: [email protected]
Technical Contact ID: INTECXD5ZBO7KBK5
Technical Contact Name: Suspended Domain
Technical Contact Organization: Suspended by Registrar
Technical Contact Address1: 98 Hampshire Street
Technical Contact Address2: Suspended domain
Technical Contact City: Nassau
Technical Contact Postal Code: 4892
Technical Contact Country: Bahamas
Technical Contact Country Code: BS
Technical Contact Phone Number: +1.23456789
Technical Contact Email: [email protected]
Name Server: NS1.PARKINGCREW.NET
Name Server: NS2.PARKINGCREW.NET
Created by Registrar: INTERNET.BS CORP.
Last Updated by Registrar: INTERNET.BS CORP.
Domain Registration Date: Mon May 21 11:27:11 GMT 2012
Domain Expiration Date: Mon May 20 23:59:59 GMT 2013
Domain Last Updated Date: Wed Dec 19 21:11:18 GMT 2012

NOTE: If you have an Android phone, the OS allows you to add phone numbers to a blacklist. When a call or text comes in from a blacklisted number, the phone gives the call a busy signal. Most text spam and telemarketer calls use auto dialers. When these auto dialers encounter a busy signal, they hang up and try to resend the message or re-dial, which puts them in an endless cycle. To blacklist phone numbers, go to Settings > Call > Call Rejection > Auto reject list. You can also add phone numbers to the Auto Reject List directly from your Call Log. Unfortunately, spam texters/telemarketers usually have hundreds of phone numbers, so it’s possible you may still receive more unwanted texts/calls from these same scumbags. My own call rejection list is extremely long… I’m hoping a feature similar to this will be added to the iPhone eventually. Be wary of ‘free’ smartphone apps that supposedly block calls…they might just do the opposite.