Every so often, I wonder what’s hot with spammers these days. Today’s research project has led me to the page of an outfit called the "consumer research corporation," which is recruiting product testers by spamming.

First thing they want is your zip code, so they can check whether they’re recruiting testers in your area. Turns out they are. Montgomery, AL; Honolulu, HI; "Zipcode" (apparently 00020 doesn’t exist in their database, but they’re still recruiting testers from there, glory be!).
Next, you get a page with the logos of several companies you’ve heard of ("Free shipping by FedEx" at the top; then, under a legend reading "Platinum Sponsors" we find BMGi, Columbia House, the GM card, eBay, and something called TRIMLife), where they want your personal details, all of which are mandatory except your old email address (if you enter your old address, they say they’ll let you use their free change of address service). They’ve helpfully pre-checked the box that says you agree to their privacy policy.
On reading the policy, I find that "The owners of trademarked names and merchandise used in our promotions do not sponsor and have not endorsed this promotion or product testing program", so apparently "Platinum sponsors" means "companies we’d like you to associate with us, despite their complete lack of actual association with us." And, of course, the inevitable: "CRC may sell and/or license the personal information that you provide to us to third party businesses." No opting out of that, though they do claim that they’ll remove your information from their database (and, of course, render you ineligible to participate in their testing and other exciting promotions) if you ask them to.
Another kicker: the incentive they’re offering to suck(er) you in is an IBM thinkpad. To actually qualify for the "gift", you have to accumulate six "advertiser action points", which seems to mean that you have to actually buy things (or get and use credit cards) from their advertisers. And it may take several months for their advertisers to report back that you’ve jumped through the various hoops, so don’t hold your breath waiting for your laptop.
My guess is they won’t have to give out a single laptop, and they’ll collect shitloads of email addresses and phone numbers (they require you to put in both home and work phone numbers). It’s an interesting business model.