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Spam
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Spam - What is it and what can you do about it?

No SpamSpam is the common term (used a noun and a verb) used for unsolicited e-mail.  Although generally sent out in bulk, any unsolicited e-mail may be considered spam.

Spam is very similar to the unsolicited telephone calls you may receive trying to sell you something.  Spam may also contain offensive material, or links to XXX rated sites.

For a variety of reasons people are reacting to e-mail spam strongly, with anti-spam laws already in place in many states, and being considered in others.  Unfortunately, much of the spam is sent from outside of the United States or with free e-mail accounts, so the use of spam continues.

There are laws in the US that forbid children under the age of 13 from posting or providing their e-mail addresses without their parent or guardian’s permission.

If you post an e-mail address on a public newsgroup or classified ad, you may be targeted for great quantities of spam. Specialized software is used to harvest e-mail addresses from all over the web, and there are mailing lists for sale or rent.

What to do about spam:

  • Do NOT reply to spam, or attempt to unsubscribe. This simply validates your e-mail address in their records and you will receive more spam.
  • See if your e-mail service has a bulk mail filter that you can set up.
  • If you post your e-mail address on a newsgroup, guest book, or classified ad on the  Internet, type it in like:
    user@NOSPAMlycos.com or user@REMOVElycos.com.  An individual will know to remove the added word(s), the spam software will not.
  • Do NOT get upset when you receive spam.  Just Delete it. You’ll soon recognize spam without even reading the messages. 

***Very Important***

There is a difference between “opt-in” e-mail and spam.  People who subscribe to newsletters or request information to be sent to them via e-mail are considered to have "opted-in"  (asked to receive specific mail).  Receiving the requested e-mail from an "opt-in" list is not considered spam.  Many newsletters or e-zines  (electronic magazines) will include advertisements.

Opt-in subscriptions also means you can Opt-out. The mail you receive should include an instructions how to have your e-mail address removed from the mailing list. This information is usually at the bottom of the e-mail.  Read the instructions carefully if you choose to opt-out.

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