With improved technology and world-wide Internet access, spam, or unsolicited bulk email, is now a widely used medium for committing traditional white collar crimes including financial institution fraud, credit card fraud, and identity theft, among others. It is usually considered unsolicited because the recipients have not opted to receive the email. Generally, this bulk email refers to multiple identical messages sent simultaneously.
Spam can also act as the vehicle for accessing computers and servers without authorization and transmitting viruses and Botnets. The subjects masterminding this Spam often provide hosting services and sell open proxy information, credit card information, and email lists illegally
Helpful Tips
- Avoid giving out your email address unless you know how it will be used
- Delete it unread
- Don't open spam
- Have a primary and secondary email address - one for people you know and one for all other purposes
- Never purchase anything advertised through an unsolicited email
- Never respond to spam as this will confirm to the sender that it is a "live" email address
