How do I stop spammers from sending me nonsense emails?

[Sagz]

I keep getting all these emails from different people mainly from India and other places saying that I'm their only hope in getting somebody out of prison and I would be awarded HUGE prize money but only if I send them my account number. They think I'm really crazy to do that.

Is there any other way I can stop these freaks from sending me these mails?

[Old_Geezer]

Pray very very hard.

Temporary relilef can be found by changing your e-mail account. And not sharing it on every site that asks.

[Sagz]

This is my fourth email that I created and I'm still getting them? I don't share it to anyone besides my friends and co-workers.

[Postdog]

Be like the limbo dancer who lost his job....


Just get under it.

[Old_Geezer]

Well if there was a solution we'd all be doing it. Best option is to get something like Mail Washer to filter out the known ones, you may find your e-mail client already has such a function.

[Sagz]

Ok thanks Post and Geezer, I'll try that.

[Buenchico]

Spammers get your email address in one of three ways:
1. They simply guess at lots of email addresses (or, more accurately, there computer does it for them). So they''ll put common names (or initials) together to create lots of possible addresses. For example, they know that Richard and Smith are common names, so they'll send mail to [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], etc.
(The way to avoid such mail is to use an unusual email address, e.g. [email protected]).

2. By harvesting email addresses from websites. (They use software which scours the internet, looking for email addresses). If you have to put your address online write it as "richard smith yahoo.co.uk (close the gaps and insert the @ to obtain my correct address).

3. From sites which you use for internet purchases or where you sign up to a forum. (Such information is either sold on or illegally hacked). Use a different email address for each internet site you buy from or subscribe to.

Otherwise you can't stop spam from arriving on the server of the company which provides your email service. If you use web mail you can't then avoid it ending up in your inbox (other than by using any mail filtering options offered by your mail provider). However if you use a proper email client (Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Windows Live Mail, etc) this free program can prevent a lot of spam from being downloaded to your PC:
http://www.mailwasher.net/

Chris

[Sagz]

Nice to hear from you Chris and yes I'm using Outlook and Outlook express but they still get thru. Our computer guy might have mistakenly removed our protection and now we've been compromised :p