Spam: Verkada Sends 10,000+ Unsolicited Emails to 23 School Districts
An IPVM investigation reveals Verkada has sent more than 10,000 unsolicited commercial emails to 23 US school districts, regularly ignoring senior officials' requests to stop, while emailing dozens unrelated to security such as second grade and Life Skills teachers, assistants, elementary school principals, a nutrition specialist, and others.
This massive spam email operation raises ethical and legal concerns about the tactics the aggressive Silicon Valley tech startup has taken, shedding further light on Verkada practices that various school end users have complained strongly about (see "Arrogant, Rude, and Relentless" - Verkada Sales Targeting End Users).
Inside this report, we examine the breadth and depth of Verkada's junk email marketing campaign to these school districts. In the coming weeks, IPVM will publish further articles based on this database. Verkada declined to comment for this report.
IPVM ******* ***** ********
****** ** ***** ****** ****** ****, IPVM ******** **** **,*** ****** ****** 23 ****** ********* ** * ****** over *** **** * ******:
* ******** ** *** ****** (**** than *%) ********* ****-*******, ****** ******* Verkada **** *** ********, *** ******* districts ***** ****** ** **** * webinar ** ********** *** *** *******.
(**** ******* ******* ****** ******* *** this *********** ** *** ******* ****** system **** ******* **** ** ****** emails **** ** *** ** ~**,*** staff).
Estimate ** ***** ******: *+ *******
**** ********* **** ******* *** **** over * ******* *********** ********** ****** to ** *******. **** *** ******, an ******* ** **.* ******* ********** emails *** **** *** ******. *********** this ******* ***** **' **,*** ***** ****** *******, **** ***** ******* *** **** realistically **** ~*.* ******* ********* ****** to ** ****** ****** *********. **** number ** ****** **** ****** *** to ********* **** *** ********* ** received.
Method *********
** ***** ** ** ** ************** as ********, **** **** *********** ******** to *****, ******, *** ***** ****** districts ** * ****** **** ****** the **: **********, ********, *****, *******, Mississippi, ***** ********, ************, *** *******. Of ***** ** *********, ** **** responded **** ******** ********* ** ***.
****** **** *** ********, *** ******** themselves **** ****** ** ******, *.*. IPVM *** *** ****** ********* **** were ******* ******* *********. *** ****** covered ** *** ****** ** **** 2018 ** ***-******/********* ****.
2021 *****: ********* *********, **** ** *** '***'
*********, ******* ******** ********* **** * few *********** ** ****** ** "******* Team" *** ***** **** **** *** titled "********* *********** **************" (****) ** LinkedIn (****** ******* ********** ** *** emails ** "********** ** *******"). *** example, ** ****, **** * ******** Verkada ******** ********* "******* ****"******* ***** ********'* ********** ****** ****** Schools ********, *.*. ** ***** ** **** alone, "******* ****" **** *** **** webinar ****** ** *** ** *** district's *********.
*******, ******** ** **** ***** *****, 30 ******** ******* ********* **** ******** the ********. ******** ** **** ***** have ****** **** ********* ****** ******* *********,***** ******,**** *****.
*********, * ****** **** ****** ** Evanston ********** *** ****** ** ********** **** **** **** ***** ****,***** ******,***** *********,**** ******, ***.
**** ***** ***** ***** ***** *******'* aggressive ****** ** ***** *****, *** at ~*** ** *** ****** *,*** employees, **** **** ******** ** **** 1 **** *** ******** *** ** more **** ******* *** ~** ***** ******* ***** ****.
Relentless ********: "* ******* ** **** ************* **** you ** ** **********. ****"
**** *********** ******* ********* ******************' ***** **** ****** ******** *-**. In ********* ****,**** *************, *-**'* ******** ** ****** ****** and *******, ******* ** * ******* marketing ***** ***** * **** ***** with "****. * ******* ** **** advertisement **** *** ** ** **********. stop":
******* ********* ** *** ******* **** their ******* **** *** ************* ******* that "***** ** * *******" *** becoming * ****** ** *********** **** Business ********, ****** "****** ***'* ******* me ** ******-** ******":
*** *******'*********** ******* ********* **** ***********(******* ******** ***** ** ****) *********, ******** ************* *** *** after, ******* "********* *** *** ********** follow **" ***** ******* *******'* *** solution:
*** "**** ********** *******" **** ** notable ***** ** ******* ** ******* cold ******** ******** ****** ***** ********* to ******** ** **, ****** ** get ***** ***** ** ********* ******* to ***** ******** *********** *** ********** video ************.
*** ******'* ******** ******* **** ** has **** "** ****** ** ********", re-iterating "*** **** ** ******* **** our ******** ******** **********":
**** ***** **** ********, ******* ********* in ******** ********* ******* ** *-** over * ***** ***** **** *** U-46 ** ********* ***** **** ** interest ** ********* **, **** ("**'** not **********"):
"REMOVE ** **** **** ******"
******* ** ********* ********* ******** **********'* *** **** ******* ****** District, ******** ***** ************** ** **** ** *** **** "REMOVE ** **** **** ******:"
* ********* ** **** ******** ** shared *****:
** ******** ******* ***** "***** *** point ** ** *** ***** *********" while ********** ******* *** **** *******:
"Please ****** ** *****" ** ** *****
******* ******* ********* ******** *******'* ******** ****** ****** *******, including * ** ****** ********** ************ ********* ******* ** ***** **** "****** remove ** ***** **** **** ****":
*******, ******* *********, ******** ****** ***** times ** ****, ********* "******** * voicemail":
Tech ******** ******* ** *****, **** ******** ****
******* ******* **********'* ******* *** ******* School ******** ** ***** *** ***** since ****, ********* ** ****** ** its **** ************ ********, *** **** *** ** any ******** ********;******* **** ****** ******** * ******* flashlight. *******,************ ******* ****, ** ***** ****, stating: "** ********* ** ** [***] have * ****" *** ******** *******:
*** ******* ******* ******** ** ***** since ****, ** ** *****. ** August ****, *** ********'* ******** *********** ************ ******* **** *** "**** **** another **********":
*** ******* ***** ***** ** ****, asking "***** *** ** **** ** us ******* ** * *********** *** on **** ********?" ** ***** ******** replied "**":
Persists ******** ******* *** ****** ******
******* ******* **********'* ******* ******* ****** District *** *****, ********* ** ****** to********* ********** ******** ******* *******,*** *** ******* **** **** ** June **** **** "** *** *** interested ** **** **** ** ** have **** ****** *** * *** camera ******":
*******, ******* *** *** ******** ******* Calvano ** ***** ********** **********, ******* YETI **** *** **** *****:
Persists ******* **** "*** ** *** ******" *****
******* **** *** *********** ****** ** Texas' ******* *********** ****** ********, ***** tech ******** **** ******* **** ******* that "** *** *** ** *** market" ** ******** ****:
******* ******** ** ******* ** ******* 2020 **** "** *** *** ** the ******" *** ******* *********, ******** District ***** **** *** ***** ***** afterwards, **** **** **** ****. ******* never ******* **** ********** ********.
Emailing ***** ********* ** ********
******************** ***** ************ ********** ********** ****** ****** ******* **** two ***** ***** **** **** ** 2021 ** ** ********, *.*. ** June ****:
*** ********' ******** ******** **** ******,******* ************* *****, ********** ******** ************ ***** *****:
**** *** ******** ******** ****,******* *** ************** ******, ******** ** ********, ****** ****** *** Life ******** **** ****:
******* ******* **********'* ******* ******* ****** District ********** ************* ********* *****, *** ***** ********* ***** January **** **** *** **** "*** my ********** ** ****** *******":
***** ******* ****** ******* ** **** stopped ******** *******, *** *** ***** contacted ***** ***** ** ****** **** by ******* ********************* ****** **** ***** *** * YETI ******* ** ****** ******* ********:
** ****, ******* ******* ********* ******, a **************** *****' ******* *********** ****** ********:
** **** ********, ******* ******** **** they ******, ***** *** *** ******* teacher ********** *** ***** ******* *****, * **** ****** *********.
** **** ******* **** ******* ******* ISD's **** *******,*********** ***** ********** ******:
*** **********'******** *** ****** ********, ******* ******* ******** ******** *** in ****** ** ***********, **** ** techs ** ********* ********** ** ********* assistants:
- ** ****** ****** ****, ******** ** ***** & ****** technical *********
- ** ****** ********* *******, ** **********
- ** ****** ****** ********, ** **********
- ** ****** ****** **********, ********* *********
- ** ****** ******** ******, ** **********
- ** ****** ****** *******, *********** ****** *********
- * ****** ****** ********,********* ********* ** *** **************
- ** ****** ****** *****, ********* ** ******* *** ****
- ******* **** ******* ****** ************** ******* Hendricks ***** ***** ** ****** **** despite********* ********* ** ****.
Ethical, ***** ********* ******
***** ********** **** ***** ********* ***** legal ******** ** *** ** ***, under ****'****-**** ****, ********* ***** ********* **** ******** like "***** ***-*** ******** ********". *********, the **** ****** **** ***** ******** around ******* ****** *********' **** ** filing ** ******* **** **** ****** and ********** ******** ********, ******** ********* logistical *******.
** *** ****** *****, **** **** be ********** **** ******** ***** ** these ****** *** *** ******** ****** they *****.
Verkada ******** *******
*******'* ****************** ******, ****** ** ** ** **** Risa ****** **************,*** "*********** ** ****** **************"*** ***** * ******* ** *** concerns *** ******** *** *********:
** **** *** ** ******* * response. ******.
**** ********** ********
***** *’* * ****** ***** ****. Since ***** ****** ** **** **** verkada.com, *** ****’* ***** ********** ** guys ***** **** ** * **** filter?
******* ***** **** ** *** ***** of ******, **** * ******** ** them *** "** ****". ***** **** ****** ****** ***** ** ** person *********** ***** ****:
**** **** ******* ** *** ***** and ** ******** ** **** ** stop **** *******. **** **** ******* spamming ** ****** ***** **** *** board *******, * ******* *** ***** from ***** ****** ** ** ***********.
****** **** ********* ** ******, *** it ***** ** ****'* ****** ** situations **** ****.
** ****** ** **** ******** ********, and ******* “******* ****** *********” *** schools.
* ******* *** ***** **** ***** domain ** ** ***********.
**** ******* ** ***** **** *** when **** **** ********** ******* *** nobody *** **** *** *** **** of *** ***** ****** **** **** to ******....
* ***** * *** ********* * little ** ****.
** *** *** **** *****, ******* would **** ** ********** *** ***/*** process ****'* ******** **** ********** *** rollouts **** ******* ***** ** * school ******.
**** **** * ****: *********** ** IT ****** ***** ****** *** *********** puts * *** *** *** ****** control, ******* *** *** ** ******* for * *** *** **** ***** anyone. **** ***** *********** ***** ******* to ***** **** *****'* ***** * fair *****, ***** ** **** *** rfp ******* ****** *******, *** ***** the ****** ******* ** ** ******.
* ******* *** ***-**** *** *** supposed ** **** ********* ****?
*** *** *** ******* ** ** is ****** ******** *** ******* **** Verkada *** ***** **** *** ******* of ******** ***** ******** *** ***.
******* ** **** ** ***** ****** districts *** *** *** ****** ********* by ***** ****** ***** ***** *** FTC's ********* **** **** ***** **** action ***** ** *****. ** ****** they ******** ***'* **** *** **** in ***** *** ** ** **** either.
**'* * **** ****! **'* *** something * **** ********* ********* ** I ** ******** **** ****** ***'* think ** ***** ****.
*'** ** **** **** *** ***** emails *** ***** ***** **** *** on. ** *** ** * ****, I'm *** **** *** **** **** contact ** ** *******. * **** participated ** ***** ******** ** *** past ** * ******** ******** *** not ****.
**** ********** ***'* **** ***** ** how **** ****'*/***********/******/**** ***** **** **** out ** * ****** ******* * had ***** *** **** ***** ** wife ******* ******* **** ***. ***** if ** *** ************ ** **** webinars ** ***** ******* ***** ********* budget!
*** **** **** ** "*********" ** the ******** ********** ** **** ****** everyday!!!!
*****, * **** ***** *** *******, which ** **** ******* *** **** successful, ******* ********, **** ***** ********* approach.
*******, * ***** **** *** ******* running ** ******* *** ****** ** what *'** **** "******* ******" ***** marketing **** *** ******** ********. *** average *****/******** ***** *** ******** ******** in ****** ******** ******** **** **** of ********. *** ****** "****** ****" a ******** ******* ***** *** ******* you **** ***** ** ******** *** in ******* *******-* ****** *** ***********.
*'* *** ***** ** *** ****** in ***** ****, ** ***** ** keep **** ******* *****, *** ************ scaling ******** ********* ** ***** ******** trust ** **** ********/********* ********. **'* not ***** */* ******* ******, ****** engineered **** *** ***** ******* (**: "Your ********** *******..."), ** ********** **** that. ***** ******* *** ********* ****, and ****** *** ** ******* *******, but ****'** *** *** ******* ********.
***, ******* ** ******* ** *** point **** **** *** ***** ** wind ** **** ***** ************* **** blocking *** ***** **** *** *******.*** domain.
**** **** ******* *****
***** **** *** **** ***** - it's *** **** ******* ***** *'** seen *** ***
(** ****** *** *** ** *****)
* ***** **** *** ******* ******* up ******* *** ****** ** **** I'll **** "******* ******" ***** ********* into *** ******** ********.
*** *** ****? ******* * *** the *******:
**** ****** ************ ** ******* ****** phone *****....
*******, ******** ******* ** ******* ********* in ****** *** *********** ** ** SLC:
** ***:
*** ****** "****** ****" * ******** company ***** *** ******* *** **** about ** ******** *** ** ******* HubSpot-y ****** *** ***********.
*********, ******* ** ******* *** **** hypothesis.
*******, ******* ** ***** ** ******** to ****** ************, *.*., **** **** soon ******** / ******* * ******* management ******:
** ***** **** **** *** *% or *% ** **% ** ******** small ******** ** ********* ** ******* to ****, *** **** *** ***** to ********* *** ** ***** "******** OS" ******** **** ***** ** ****** to ****** ** **** ** */* to ******* ********** ******, ***. ********?
*** *** ****?
********** *** "****", *** ***** *** be * *** ** * *** between ********** * *********** **** ** your *********** ****** *** **** ******** reflecting ** ********.
*******, ******** ******* ** ******* ********* in ****** *** *********** ** ** SLC:
*'* *** **** **** ** **** from **** ** ******* ** ******* potentially ******* * ****** ****. * big **** ** ***** ******** *** logic ******* ** ******* ****** ****** to **** ******* *** *******. *** enough **** ****** ** ******, *** it **** ********** ** ******, *****? What's ********** ** **** **** *** outside ** *** ***** ** *** hires ** ****** *** ******* ******. With *** **** ** **-******* **** are ******, *** **** * ***** imagine **/*** ***** ***** ** *********, I ***** ****** **** ** ******** to **** **** ** ***** ****** security ***** ****** ******* **** ***** now.
***** *** ** * *** ** a ***
********* ** *** *** * *** there ** *** *** **** *** move, ***** *** ** * *** of ***** ** ** **** *****.
*** **** ***** ********* *******. ****, you're ******* ***** ** **** *** customers, *** ***** **** ** ****... Do *** ****? ** *** *** enough ********* **** ****'* ******* ** rip ** *** ***, ***** *** don't **** ** ****.
**** *: ***** ********* ********** ***********
**** *: ************ **** ** ** gain * ******** ** *** ******
**** *: ***** *** **** **** in
**** *: *** ****** *** **** to ******
**
**** *: *********** **** *** *** sales ******, ******* ** ******* *.*, spend * **** ** *** ********** a *** **** ** ******** *** then ****** ** **** *
********* ** *** *** * *** there ** *** *** **** *** move, ***** *** ** * *** of ***** ** ** **** *****.
*** **** ***** ********* *******. ****, you're ******* ***** ** **** *** customers, *** ***** **** ** ****... Do *** ****?
* ****** #*'* ***** ****. ***** Verkada ******* ***** ********* **** ***** offering *** **** ** **** ** not,**** **** *** ******* ** ****-**. ** * ****** ******** **** 300 ******* ******* **** * **** [nonrefundable] ********, **** ** **** *** unhappy **** **, **** *** **** going ** **? ***** **** *** away *** ***** ****? *** ********* of ****-** **** **** **** *********.
**** ***** ********** *** * ********** lightning ***** ********* ***** ******** *****. Get ** **** ***** ** ** quickly ** ********, *** **** ****** in ** ****** ** ******** (*****, access, *********, ******* ********** ******, ***.)
** **** ** *********** ** *** what ******* **** ** *** **** few *****, **** **** **** ********* is *** *** ***** ****** ***** bring * **** ****** ** **** scrutiny ** **** *** ***** **** to *** **** *** **** ******. My *** **** ** **** **** will **** ** **** ** **** can *** ** **** ** **** can, *** ** ****** ** *** and *** **** *** ******** ** get * ***** ******* ** *** them *** ****** ****. **** ******** giant ******* ******** **** **** **** with **** *** **** **** ********* clean ** *** *********.
******* **** ******* **** "*******" ******* for *********** * *** ***** *****.
******, **** ***** **** ** *** why ***** ****, ** **** ******** this ****, *** ***** **** ** so *****?
******* ********* ***** ****** ***** *** ** Take ****** ********* *******
*** **** ***** ********* *******. ****, you're ******* ***** ** **** *** customers, *** ***** **** ** ****... Do *** ****?
***, * ********** *****. ** ****** you ***** **** ** * ***** of *********, *** ***** *** ********* spend *** **** *** **** *** the *** *** * ***** ***** you ****** *** * *****. **'* an ******* *******, *** *** ***** is ****** * *********** *-***-**** **** of ****, *** *** ***** ***** you * ****** *********** *********, *** of ****** **** ****** ** ********* much **** **** *** **** *********** transactional *****.
****, *******'* ********* ** ***** ******** is ******* ** **** ****. **** you've *** * ***** ** ******-** customers, **** *** *** *** ******** a *** ** **** ** ****** down ** **** ******** **** ********** products *** *************.
*'** ********* **** ******- *** *** worth ****** ***** ****.
* **** *** * ***** ****** district, ***** ******** ** *** ** my ********. *** ** ** ********** was ******** ** ******* *** **** the ****. ** ******** ** *** weeks *** **** ******* *** ** their *********** ** **** ** ******** me.
*** **** *** * *** **** to *** ******* **** **** *** to *** ** * **** **** and *********** **** **** ***** ******* history. **** *** **** ****** ** the ****** ********** *** ****** ** end **** ***** *****. * ***** the **** ** ****** **** ** never ******* ****** ** *** ****** again.
** ** ********* **** **** **** us *****. **** *****'* **** **** contact ** ******* ****** ******** *** their **** ********* **** ****!
* ********** ******* **** ******* *** the *** **** ****** ******. ** they **** ******* ** **** ********, others **** ***** ***** ********* *******. People *** *** ******** ****** ***** their ***** ******* *** ********* ******** model ** **** ** **** ****- please ****** *** ****!!
**** **** *** ******* *******. ***** way ** ** ********. ** ** the **** **** *** **** ***** selling **** *****.
*** ********* ********* ********** ** *** today *** ***** ** **** ******** down. **** ***** ** *** ***** of **. ** ***'* **** ** anger *** ********* ******.
******* *****. ***** ********* ********** **** when **** *********** ******** ** **** and *** *** ****** ** **** a ***** ******* ** **, ** when **** ******* ** * *******-****** kind ** ***** (**: ********) *** people **** ********** **** ***** ****** and **** ** ******* *** ** pics/events/updates/etc.
***** ****, **** ******* **** ******* to *** * ****** ******** ** education.
**** ******** ** **** *************** **** other ****** *******. ***** *** **, Verkadas ********** ******** ****. ** **** to ***** *****, *** ***** ******* will *** *** ******** ** ***** school ****** '*** ****' **** ********* their ********.
** ******* ** ** **** *** only (***********) ********* ******** ** * Verkada ***** ****** ** ** ***** with *** ******** ********
*’* ********* ******* ** **** *** tables ******* ******* *** *** ** email **** *** *******, **** *** Constant ******* ** ***** **** ******* out ** *** ** ****.
**** **** *** *** **** ******* Verkata ** *** * **** ******* to ** ******** ****?
*** ********* ****** *******. *'* **** to **** **** ***. *** ********** and ***** ******* **** ******* ** relentless.
*** ******** **** *** * ********. Looks **** **** ********* **** ******* and *** ******** ** ********'* ********.
***: *** ***** ******* ******** ** a ******* ****** ***** ******* **** anyone ******** ******* ** ***** ***** Verkada ** ****** ** **** **** Verkada **** ***** *******.
..... *******.
**** ******.
***** ****** *** ******* ******* * fair ***** *** *** ****** ********, test *** * ******* *** * month, *** ********** **** ******* *** average, ********* *** **** **** *********, licensing *** **** ***********. ********** ********** Verkada *** *** * **** ***, we *** *** **** * *********** system, **** ********* ********* ****, *** wanted ** ******* *** ***** ******* (right ******** ***** ***** ****** *******'* poor ***** ****** ** ******** ***** video *******).
** **** **** ** **** *** interested *** **** ***** *** ** away. **** **** ******* ******** ***** people ** *** ********, ** *** tech ********** *** *** **** ****** to ***** ******** **** *******. ******* solved.
*******, ****, ***** ****!
******* ** **** ** * ********* Silicon ****** ***** ***** **** **** or, ** ******** *********'* ******** "***** ********", ******* ********* *** **** ****** who *** *** ********* ***** **** get * ****.
**** ** *** **** *** ********** of * *** ******* ** ***** girl ** ****** **** *** **** again. "*****? *****? *****? **. *** how ***** ***? ***?"
**'* *** ********** *** * ***'* think **'* *******. *** ** ** covered ********* - ********* "******* $***,*** **********" Campaign, ***** *** ******** ******** **** their ********* *********** **** *** *****.
**** ******** **** ******* ***** **********, Verkada's ********** ****** ** ******** **** to **** *** ********* **** *** conventionally *** **** ****. *** ******* clearly **** *** ****. *** ** may **** **** ** **** **** generation ** ******* ****** **** ****, much **** *** **** ***** ****** media *** ******** *** ******, **** break *********** ****** *** ***** *** government ***** ** *** ******** **** behavior.