Get Rich Quick Scams
All the latest Scams Revealed!
|
Want to learn about legitimate ways to make extra
money? Get the facts in the free guide to
|
|
email Scam Alert: Oh What is Spam? It's a Scam Says Sam I am...
By Shelley Lockwood
What is spam? No, we're not talking about the sandwich meat!
In the offline world we've all heard the term junk mail. You know, when you go to your mailbox and there is some kind of flyer or other. Some we keep (like restaurant menus), some we toss in the recycling bin. It is a marketing technique. Done properly it can be very effective. It doesn't cost the recipient anything. With advertised specials and coupons money can be saved.
Online it's referred to as Spam (also known as Unsolicited commercial e-mail, UCE, junk mail and bulk mail.) Online it's a highly undesirable marketing tactic.
It's advertising e-mail sent to people without their permission.
Besides being used mostly to promote scams and illegal schemes it costs the recipient. It costs Internet Service Providers. Sorting through e-mail costs wasted time.
Spam is a major issue on the Internet. In fact it's out of control with widespread implications.
Due to the sheer volume it can render e-mail addresses useless.
As the volume of Spam grows it is becoming more difficult for you to receive e-mail you want.
Span blocking technology isn't foolproof Spam messages sometimes get through or permission based ones don't.
One of the first Spam counter moves was the development of permission based e-mail. Known as opt-in Net users add their contact information to a subscriber list when they are visiting a website. Confirming their interest to receive e-mail from them; and giving permission to send it.
They must include the option to easily opt-out from receiving further e-mails. Usually in the form of a link appearing at the end of each e-mail they send. Click the link, your information is removed from the list and no further mails are sent.
Genuine Internet marketers don't use spam to solicit business. So there's a pretty safe rule to follow...if it's spam it's a scam!
Don't open it, don't read it and most importantly don't respond to it.
If you've opened it, don't bother trying to unsubscribe. It either won't work, or you'll let the spammer know your e-mail address is active and you'll receive even more!
Reporting Spam is encouraged. But proceed with caution. The scamming spammers move around, they have to because they're doing something unethical, in some instances illegal and can be arrested or sued. Mistakenly reporting authentic correspondence causes a lot of problems for the sender.
It isn't easy to keep track of what we've signed up to receive. Understand your e-mail software so that you can block out the unwanted but let the good stuff through.
As a general guideline most spammers send out blatant ads filled with hype; the real deal arrives in the form of information (because that's what you signed up to receive).
With one click I sort my incoming e-mail by sender, with another click highlight the ones I don't recognize then click to delete. I don't want any postal worker deciding what mail I should or shouldn't receive. It's my right and only my right to do so. I feel the same way about e-mail (though it may be a pain sometimes) I'm the one who should decide what I want to receive not my Internet service provide nor any software filter.
On the other hand picture this: Your at home sitting back enjoying a coffee to a beep beep beep sound. The sound of a mail truck backing up to your mail crate (no further use for a little box or slot) and dumping out pile after pile of mail. The end result - driving up costs and lowering efficiency. It costs more to process mail, to send mail and everything takes longer.
Spam in my books is a scam. The best way to fight scams? Through awareness. The perpetrator's sole objective is to get people to hand over their money regardless of the legal risks. Stop that cash flow and the scam disappears into oblivion.
Same idea with Spam. As long as spamming is profitable no amount of safeguards are going to stop it. The only way it will ever stop is when it stops making any money.
Fight Spam spread the word - don't respond to it and don't give the scam artists your money.
Take care,
Shelley
The Nasties Article List:
Home assembly scams revealed
The truth about medical billing scams.
Envelope stuffing scams revealed
My own personal story about how I was scammed into buying a franchise.
Avoid online and work from home scams
Beware scam artists posing as drop shippers
Misleading campaign and the $5 solution.
Work at home scam alert Fake suppliers exposed!
A chainletter by any other name is still a chainletter. Chain letter scams revealed
Beware this so called lawyer approved biz op
Avoid online and work from home scams.
Those e-mails you get promoting foreign lotteries are scams
email Scam Alert: Oh What is Spam? It's a Scam Says Sam I am...
Spam revealed how scams arriving by bulk e-mail hurt everyone.
The do not spam registry scam exposed
Some suggested techniques for dramatically reducing the amount of spam you receive from your website e-mail addresses.
The 12 scams most likely to arrive via spam e-mail
Beware ecards may be delivering more than you bargained for
Find out just some of the ways spammers harvest email addresses
email scam revealed beware ebay second chancers
Beware the cable descrambler spam scam.
Unless you are protected your digital products can easily be downloaded for free.
Beware domain registry scam artists
Our domain name and website were held hostage. Read all about it so you can make sure it doesn't happen to you.
2004 fraud trends FTC report
According to the FTC these were the top 10 consumer complaint categories in 2003
Some interesting numbers about e-consumer complaint trends from April 2001 to June 2002.
Do you know how well you are protected when using your credit card to make online payments?
Credit card scams explained
A brief outline of the consumer fraud complaint trends for 2001, 2002 & 2003
What is online phishing? Learn the warning signs
Beware when posting your resume online.
Spoofing or Phishing scams are on the rise. Read about them and learn how not to be scammed by them.
Article about an AOL e-mail hoax that floated around.
Self defense tips for seniors to avoid investment scams
Learn how to spot internet investment scams versus real investment opportunities
Links to all kinds of articles about scammers being busted
Are you a safe cyber surfer? Read these important pointers and make sure.
Attention to All Scamsters
This section is dedicated to spreading the awareness of computer viruses and how to stop them.
It's not bad enough we have to worry about viruses, we also have to try and figure out which ones are real viruses and which ones are only hoaxes.
Federal Trade Commission Consumer Feature
misleading marketing tactics exposed at last
Have you ever been mouse-trapped?
My SFI experience
A sneaky spamming method revealed.
Free Gifts that are promised after the sale are a thing to watch out for
Here's a dishonest marketing method.
An article explaining internet spam and how to escape it
ebay scam alert beware of fake escrow services
Telephone bill cramming scams explained
Look out for the "local singles" 800 cramming scam
Watch out for this order scam!
Look out for these prepaid subscription or free magazine scams.
Beware this misleading method called domain slamming commonly used by many domain registrars.
How a small rebate check in the mail turned out to be an ISP scam.
Ever entered a sweepstakes draw and ended up with a monthly bill?
Don't be "crammed" by this website trial scam.
MLM
The opinions on MLM ops vary. Here are just a few!
MLM opinions vary, some love it, some hate it, some think it's an outright scam. Check out some of our MLM poll results.
A person's views on MLM
Commentary: The Truth About MLM Programs
Checklist to use before joining an MLM op
How Ponzi Schemes and Pyramid Frauds Work
Editorial Reviews: Amway Motivational Organizations: Behind the Smoke and Mirrors
Discover the dirty little marketing tricks online home business opportunities are using to take your money!
Federal Trade Commission Consumer Alert
Discover the dirty little marketing tricks online home business opportunities are using to take your money!
Read William's personal struggle promoting Imagine 2020 only to never receive his commissions.
People share their Imagine2020 experiences
Robert L. Fitzpatrick discusses Multi-level marketing
