spam, def.:

• To mass-mail un-requested identical or nearly-identical email messages, particularly those containing advertising. Especially used when the mail addresses have been culled from network traffic or databases without the consent of the recipients. (From: Jargon File, def. 5; see also: Hormel)
• Stupid email from people you don't know, about crap you don't want.
• Also known as Unsolicited Commercial Email (UCE), and Unsolicited Bulk Email (UBE)

1. Never tell anyone your email address.
   • Whoops, you forget and send a friend a joke, and your friend forwards it to some gal
   • This gal then forwards the email to everyone on her joke list
   • Some joker copies the message (including email addresses) to some website
   • ... and the dreaded spammers snag your address, again
   • So now it's time to change your email account, again.

2. After receiving some spam, asked to be removed from the list
   • If it's an honest and considerate business, they will immediately remove you from their advertising list.
   • Unfortunately, this lets inconsiderate spammers know they have a valid email address, and can re-use and/or re-sell your address... accomplishing the exact opposite of what you want!
     • Also, most/all spammers use temporary or forged email accounts to spam.
     • For more on tracking down spammers, see: spam FAQ, alt.spam FAQ, HappyHacker.net; also Spammer faces slammer

3. Of course you could make your reply-to addresses contain those clever me@NOSPAM.example.com permutations.
   • Spammers have likely already programmed their spam-collecting programs to decipher the most popular of these.

4. Get a free email account
   • Use this account when an email address is required by various web sites, especially when you're unsure of their email privacy policies.
   • Or, set up an email "redirector," which means giving potential spammers a disposable email address.
     • See: Sneakemail, or SpamGourmet
   • Note: some people give false info when signing up for free accounts... gee, I wonder why

5. Report the spammer to their ISP (Internet Service Provider), or to people who keep track of these things.
   • You can also forward spam to uce@ftc.gov (which, as of Jan. 2002, was receiving 10,000 spams/day)
   • For more info, see: SamSpade.org, SpamCop.net, Spamhaus.org, JunkBusters.com

• Spam Laws, U.S. Federal and State
• SpamCon Foundation Law Center (discussion board)
• Here's a guy who has declared war on spam and spam war 2; another good read on playing with a spammer
• Want to investigate dumb "University Degree" spams? Check the message boards at DegreeInfo
• Why spam is bad (statistical guesstimations)
• How much does spam cost? Spam calculator
• Tips for suing spammers
• spam.abuse.net, cauce.org, more resources
• Spammer's phone numbers, mostly toll free
  • Auto-dialing laws, by state
• Lyris's white paper: Stop spam now
• Direct Marketing Association's email preferences service
• Spam filter reviews, anti-spam software (windows)
• The junk mail problem.
• c|net's article on risky spam behavior
• Curious about how spammers bulk emailers work? Here are the 3 all-to-easy steps:
  1. They get one of the many bulk email programs
  2. They buy some list
  3. For about $200 and a few hours time, they can start emailing 1,000,000 recipients
• If you're a Systems Administrator, see the email & spam sections of the webmaster portal
  • Also: SpamBouncer.org, SugarPlum, qumail anti-spam how-to
• How spam harversters work
• One guy's spam answers
• How to waste telemarketers time
• Spam Software:
  • Outclass