Spam Solution

[LadySmilie]

This is from the 2009 Consumer Action Handbook (Be a smarter consumer)

www.ConsumerAction.gov

http://www.consumeraction.gov/caw_orderhandbook.shtml

you can get order a copy of this handbook there.

below is some tips from the handbook about the Internet and spam, what you can about it.

http://www.consumeraction.gov/caw_internet_spam.shtml

Internet - Spam

E-mail spam is not just unwanted, it can be offensive. ****ographic 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.


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.


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.


in the handbook the address is different. spam@uce.gov

so I guess both addresses are correct...

[LadySmilie]

http://www.ftc.gov/spam/

Do you receive lots of junk email messages from people you don't know? It's no surprise if you do. As more people use email, marketers are increasingly using email messages to pitch their products and services. Some consumers find unsolicited commercial email - also known as "spam" - annoying and time consuming; others have lost money to bogus offers that arrived in their email in-box.

This website has information about the Federal Trade Commission's recent law enforcement actions against deceptive commercial email and spammers' responsibilities under the CAN-SPAM law. In the "For Consumers" section, you'll find tips on how to reduce the amount of spam email in your in-box.

If you get spam email that you think is deceptive, forward it to spam@uce.gov. The FTC uses the spam stored in this database to pursue law enforcement actions against people who send deceptive email.