There are a large number of email spam and scam messages that bombard our inboxes every day. These messages fall into several broad categories that can be your guide to help you know when it is legitimate advertising or a spam/scam message. The following categories of messages arrive by the dozen daily in our inbox, thanks to “email harvesters” that compile lists of email addresses found on web sites.
“Quick Fix” Drugs
Viagra, Cialis, and Hoodia are, by far, the most proliferate of the messages we receive daily. These messages usually include a link to a web site. The web site may contain viruses or may entice you to give personal information and money. At the best, it would simply verify your email address as “live”.
Mortgages
You are guaranteed a very low rate for a mortgage on your home regardless of your credit rating. These messages have strange subject lines and are from different senders each time. We have yet to find a business or contact name anywhere in the message and haven’t been tempted to click the web site link.
Fake Products
People will try to sell anything via email because the cost to send millions of messages is virtually non-existent. If even one person responds to these messages, it is well worth the effort for the spammer. The most common products we see are fake Rolexes and Gucci handbags.
University Degrees
Yes, you can get a degree from an “accredited” university by simply paying a low fee. Colour printers can produce very authentic-looking degrees and this is what you will get, if you receive anything at all.
Cheap Software
All of the most expensive and sought-after software, including Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop, is available in these messages. Again, if you receive anything, it would be illegally copied CDs which the software companies do not support.
Penny Stocks
Would we all be millionaires by now if we had only invested in these “hot” email stock tips? The trick to these is that when people buy stock the price does rise, then the originator of the scam sells a large amount of stock bought at no or little cost and the price plummets, losing all of your money. Of course, many of these emails are just simple scams to get your money.
Scams
By far, the most popular scam email that we receive are variations of the Nigerian Scam. A banker or lawyer somewhere in the world has access to millions of dollars due to someone who died in a well-documented plane crash and left no will or next-of-kin. They are willing to share the money with you if you will present yourself as the deceased next-of-kin and claim the money. These are dangerous scams and have costs lives as well as large amounts of cash.
Another scam we’ve seen a lot lately, is a message asking us to represent a foreign business to collect and send money from their customers. We are always amazed that anyone would fall for this considering the ease of international banking.
Lotteries
We win “foreign” lotteries nearly every day. In fact, one day we won five times in five different lotteries. You are told that your email address was attached to a number and entered in a lottery. Various reasons are given for why email addresses would be collected and entered in a lottery for free. Your number always wins staggering amounts of money. What amuses us is how they always ask you not to tell anyone about your winnings until they can contact you and “verify” that you are the winner.
What To Do
We are frequently asked how to stop the spam from coming and, unfortunately, can only tell you that the best defense you have is your delete button. Do not respond to these messages for any reason. “Remove from list” and “unsubscribe” links will often only increase the number of these messages you receive.
Unfortunately, the “bad” spammers are making it very difficult for legitmate email marketing messages to get through to you. Much as flyers arrive in your mailbox, local businesses (like this one) offer newsletters and promotions via email. Legitimate email will have contact information and real subscription options that give you control over what you receive in your inbox.
To read more about viruses and scams, visit www.scambusters.com