The following is the e-mail exchange between deleted account @NFLInsiders and popular parody account @NFL_Memes. Here, @NFLInsiders poses as "A National Football League Property" and tries to phish information from @NFL_Memes by offering a fake internship. Insiders even goes as far as to impersonate an actual NFL employee by saying they are Dean Soloman, Director of Human Resources – New Media. The NFL confirmed that @NFLInsiders is not associated with the league and nobody named Dean Soloman works for the NFL. It's a startling reminder of the vast, unregulated underworld that exists on Twitter. The exchange of e-mails appears unedited and in its original form although e-mail addresses have been redacted.
On Mon, Oct 14, 2013, NFL Insiders
Would you be interested in taking a position as the day-to-day manager of the @nflinsiders Twitter account? We are very impressed with your work on the @NFL_Memes account. We are looking for someone who can be both witty (think memes, gifs, etc.) as well as informative with daily league news. Currently, the account is set up to automatically tweet out links from the league website so our day-to-day manager would not need to tweet out those links, but would need to provide links to interviews or other non-traditional content. We are looking to be a cross between a traditional account like NFL: Around The League (@NFL_ATL) and something like what you are doing at NFL Memes.
Do you see yourself as up to this task and if so, can you give us some example of how you might boost the account's Twitter presence?
—
NFL Insiders
Twitter: @nflinsiders
www.nfl.com
A National Football League Property
On Mon, Oct 14, 2013 NFL Memes
How can we help? We would love to be a part of this. We can easily post to the account and then RT (retweet) the account and help it grow.
What is the next step?
On Oct 14, 2013 "NFL Insiders"
First, we'd like to know who we are dealing with!
We've actually been following the @NFL_RT account for a couple weeks now and love the creativity you guys crank out. Ideally, we would like to get an agreement signed (protecting the rights to our account) then giving you access to it through HootSuite, where you would have final editorial say over content (the actual tweets) while we would continue to use our automated app to tweet out links during the day.
Most likely there would be an initial "trial period", let's say two weeks, at which we would decide on whether or not to enter you into our six-month official internship program (a necessary step because the NFL hasn't committed a considerable amount in human resources for social media). If all went well after the six-month program, then there is precedent for either consultant compensation or even in some cases, full-time employment.
On Mon, Oct 14, 2013 NFL Memes
Cool! Since its an internship how do I clear this with my school? I know they need info so that they know it's a real internship and not something I made up. I'm stoked for this!
On Mon, Oct 14, 2013 NFL Insiders
On Mon, Oct 14, 2013 NFL Memes
Sounds good. Lets get started!
On Mon, Oct 14, 2013 NFL Memes
On Mon, Oct 14, 2013 NFL Insiders
To set up the HootSuite Account can you fill out this form?
NFL Internship Agreement Form
Otherwise, I will send over the official forms tomorrow when I get clearance from the HR Department.
Thanks, looking forward to seeing your work.
(Ed Note: The NFL Internship Agreement Form was at first an empty link, and the first occasion when the folks behind NFL Memes become suspicious.)
On Oct 15, 2013 NFL Memes
There is nothing there?
On Oct 15, 2013 NFL Insiders
It seems like there is an issue with our server. I am going to get your paperwork from HR this afternoon so I'll have it for you by close of business today.
Be on the looking for the Internship Agreement form, a MailChimp form (to put you in our system), and the HootSuite login information.
We should be able to get that processed by tomorrow and you'll have access to the Twitter then.
Let me know if you have any questions, otherwise I will send you those forms later this afternoon.
(Ed Note: Again, NFL Memes becomes suspicious and asks for a name of who they are dealing with, but are still talking about the possibility of working for the NFL.)
On Oct 15, 2013 NFL Memes
I don't know man. What's your name? Why can't you just put me on a trial, I promise I can show you instant results I have a huge page, the best on Twitter and the Nfl will be pleased. Because this now seems a bit different?
(Ed Note: Perhaps sensing the concern, NFL Insiders now impersonates the fictional Mr. Soloman)
On Tue, Oct 15, 2013 Insiders
My Dean Soloman and I am Director of Human Resources-New Media.
I definitely want to get you on the trial but we just need to get an internship agreement signed to protect our rights to the account. Does this makes sense?
Otherwise we don't have insurance to protect our own account.
-Dean
On Oct 15, 2013 NFL Memes
I do not entirely understand. You use hootsuite then you are okay already right? I mean your rights are that you can take me off at any point.
If you were giving me access regular then I could see the need for me to sign something.If you hootsuite me I can show you just how big I can grow this account for the NFL and we can then discuss after that how we can turn it from an internship into something bigger maybe. Ok Dean?
I have to get back to schooling so please let me know soon what you want to do. I really want this to work but I have school and my own account too!
On Tue, Oct 15, 2013 NFL Insiders
I would like to get you set up to control the account by this evening if that works for you?
The HootSuite login information is as follows:
Email: [redacted]
Password: [redacted]
Also, according to state law we need to officially put you in our system for tax purposes so can you quickly fill this out?
Bill Pay Form
This is the account you would sign in to to access your pay slip if/when the internship starts since you are eligible for bonuses as an intern. We will discuss bonus benchmarks once your trial period ends.
Thanks and we are looking forward to having you on our team!
– Dean
(Ed Note: After sending another nondescript form phishing for info, the jig is up.)
On Tue, Oct 15, 2013 NFL Memes
On Tue, Oct 15, 2013 at 4:27 PM, Insiders
Would you like to continue our conversation on the phone?
Otherwise, you are in some trouble. Unfortunately this is why we wanted to sign you to the agreement because now you left yourself unprotected by employer-employee laws.
Less than a week after that threat, NFL Insiders would vanish from existence.
