Location:   Home Warnings SPAM

SPAM: More than just Junk Email

The Problem

What is SPAM?

Good commercial email messages are messages sent by companies you have an interest in or existing relationship. You either signed up for a service which you agreed to recieve their email, or you purchase from them on a regular basis and they send you sales notices or order confirmations. Most folks like or don't mind getting that type of email. Most people would not consider this spam, since you agreed to recieve this email or you have a relationship with the companies sending the email to you. Most respectable companies will allow you to either specify what type of email they send you or give you a way to opt-out of their email messages.

Bad commercial email is usually email from companies you don't have a relationship with. Sometimes companies you regularly conduct business with gave or sold your email address or other information to their "partners" or basically anyone willing to pay for your information. Soon, solicitations start flooding in for junk you don't need or want, or simply from companies you never hear of. Unsolicited commercial email qualifies as what most people call SPAM. This bad spam may be annoying, but at least it isn't deceptive or illegal. Also, in this category would be chain letters or forwarded emails from your good meaning friends that know any better than spread Internet hoaxes or pass on email to 5 other people for good luck. Please forgive them, but also correct them.

Evil junk email is probably the most abundant. They are commercial or unsolicited emails that advertise bogus wonder drugs to reduce or enlarge various body parts, make you rich overnight without work, ask you to validate your information with a company you have never done business with, to help move some international bank funds into a safe location, passwords to adult websites that you're sure you didn't request, and generally fullfil any and every possible fantasy, and countless other scams or hoaxes. The messages are usually sent under false pretense, forged email headers (so you don't know who really sent the message), and no way to directly reply back to the message.

SPAM Prevention and Protection

• Change your email address: This is the most effective way to immediately stop the Spam. The only problem is you have to tell/email everyone you actaully want to get email from about your new address. Drastic times call for drastic measures.
• Setup at least one extra email account, possibly with a free email provider like Yahoo or Hotmail for giving to websites or online forms you might get spam from. This helps keep your real, private email account clear of junk from these sites. This is great for using with online forums or newsgroups where your address might be left public.
• Stay away from e-cards, tell-a-friend or refer-a-friend websites, or other sites that ask you to provide your or your friend's information for some cute or flashy image, electronic card, flash movie, etc. Friends don't SPAM friends.
• Give your address ONLY to friends and family and people you TRUST. This is important. If you have an aunt that cannot resist those holiday ecard sites -- give her your SPAM email account.
• If you recieve junk email and you don't know and trust the company sending you the email message DO NOT RESPOND, DO NOT click on the REMOVE ME link, to not VISIT their WEBSITE, and DO NOT even OPEN the email (if possible).
• Use spam-filtering software. This is a great help when you get large volumns of junk email. Some email clients are starting to come with basic spam-filtering abilities built in, but if that is not good enought, commercial and free stand alone programs can help weed out the junk.
• Don't forward chain letters, be careful with "reply to all" in your email client, and check with your local hoax revealing sites before deleting any file on your harddrive or calling the FTC about petitions.
• Educate your friends and family. Knowledge is power. You don't want your loved ones getting spammed or scammed (or fired for infecting the company network with an email virus).

Scams and Hoaxes and Viruses

• They claim to be well known and respected companies like Ebay, PayPal, large ISPs, and even major banks and other institutions wanting to "verify" some important. Never give personal or sensitive information by email.
• They claim to be a charity in need, refugee attempting to flee his/her country, someone needing your assistance closing a business deal by transferring large amounts of cash with your help (do an search for Nigerian scam), or any number of other cons to get you to give out your financial information.
• They claim to be sending you an invoice or ask you to "confirm your order" (what order???)
• They have vague subject lines like: "Hi", "What's up?", "I love you" (virus), or "important information inside" -- or anything like that.

Special Note for ChurchServe Clients