Most Internet email accounts overflow with hundreds of unsolicited messages from marketers. This make it almost impossible for legitimate business mail to reach inboxes.
Defining Spam
Spam (Junk mail) is the mass distribution of unsolicited email across the Internet by certain unscrupulous marketers. They choose this method to distribute sales pitches because email is a cheap way to reach a large market. Problems arise when these unethical spammers bombard accounts with their unsolicited sales literature. Most of their junk is blatant sales pitches for worthless garbage. In fact, most of their sales pitches can be categorized as deceptive, fraudulent, get rich quick schemes, or MLM scams.
Spam Methods
Once a spammer gets an email address on a hot list he sends them hundreds of junk emails. This makes it difficult for most to separate legitimate emails from the spam. Complaining to the source of the junk mail rarely resolves the problem because many spammers supply a fake return email address. Spammers also use FREE trial ISP accounts. Like the one offered by AOL. Once they've used up the free trial they move their operation to another ISP.
Unsubscribing Tactics
Never click the unsubscribe link contained in spam. Clicking the link verifies that the email address is legitimate and active. Thus, leading to even more unsolicited messages. This is a tricky and unethical.method used by many spammers.
Who Pays for Spam
The consumer and Internet Service Providers (ISP) pay for the spam attacks. The average consumer spends a few seconds reading or rejecting spam. Multiply this by hundreds per day, adding up to thousands per month. This takes a big chunk out of one's Internet time. And time is money, especially on the Internet.
Fighting Spam Attacks
Here are ways to end the spam wars.
- Close all the spammed mail accounts. Set up new accounts.
- Set up filters to direct the spam directly to the trash folder.
- Open Junk Mail Accounts. These are accounts specifically set up for spam.
- Report spammers. Many spammers supply fake return addresses.
Where to Report Spam Attacks
Here are a few sites on the Internet to report those spam attacks.
- Spam Cop
- Spam Abuse.
- Spam Laws
Anti-Spam Software
Here are a few popular spam fighting software downloads.
- SpamPal (freeware)
- Mailwasher (freeware)
Warnings
These are things one should never do in fighting spam.
- Don't spam the spammer. It is a waste of time.
- Never threaten violence. This could cause more problems.
- Don't hack into their site. That is an illegal move causing more problems.
- Don't try other illegal tactics. Stay cool.
Use the information here to protect email accounts.
Source: Spam Laws cauce.org
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