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E-mail spam is not just unwanted, it can be offensive. Pornographic spam causes
many consumer complaints. Decrease the number of spam e-mails you receive by making
it difficult for spammers to get and use your e-mail address.
- Don't use an obvious e-mail address, such as JaneDoe@isp.com. Instead use numbers
or other digits, such as Jane4oe6@isp.com.
- Use one e-mail address for close friends and family and another for everyone else.
Free addresses are available from Yahoo! and Hotmail. You can also get a
disposable forwarding address from www.spammotel.com. If an address attracts too much spam, get rid of it and establish a new one.
- Don't post your e-mail address on a public web page. Spammers use software that
harvests text addresses. Substitute "janedoe at isp.com" for "janedoe@isp.com."
Or display your address as a graphic image, not text.
- Don't enter your address on a website before you check its privacy policy.
- Uncheck any check boxes. These often grant the site or its partners permission
to contact you.
- Don't click on an e-mail's "unsubscribe" link unless you trust the sender. This
action tells the sender you're there.
- Never forward chain letters, petitions or virus warnings. All could be a spammer's
trick to collect addresses.
- Disable your e-mail "preview pane." This stops spam from reporting to its sender
that you've received it.
- Choose an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that filters e-mail. If you get lots of
spam, your ISP may not be filtering effectively.
- Use spam-blocking software. Web browser software often includes free filtering
options. You can also purchase special software that will accomplish this task.
- Report spam. Alert your ISP that spam is slipping through its filters. The Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) also wants to know about "unsolicited commercial e-mail."
Forward spam to uce@ftc.gov.
| Be Suspicious of Mass E-mails
Many mass e-mails contain false alarms, misleading requests for donations or
fictitious offers of money and free goods. You can check the validity of
almost any mass e-mail at www.Snopes.com.
Don't forward an e-mail unless you're sure that it contains accurate
information. Not only do such e-mails confuse recipients, they are often used
to collect e-mail addresses for spammers.
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| Phishing Is A Growing Problem
"Phishing" is the use of fraudulent e-mail designed to steal identities as well
as vital personal information such as credit card numbers, bank account PINS
and passwords. Phishing e-mails often ask you to verify this type of
information. Legitimate companies never ask for your password or account
number via e-mail. If you're not sure, call the company directly.
Phishing is one of the fastest-growing scams, and the 4th most frequent
complaint received by the National Consumers League. Worse, it's getting
tougher for consumers to accurately spot fake e-mails.
Don't Take The Bait
Don't reply to e-mail messages that claim your credit card information or
other personal information needs to be updated.
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