Best Ways To Report Spammers

Spammers purchase email addresses as a way of sending unsolicited mail to individuals. They often purchase these lists from websites, but some find email addresses by stealing newsletter subscription lists and other mass email lists. Once a spammer has the email address, they can send mass emails out on a regular basis. Some common examples include the lottery scam and the Nigerian money offer.

Spam can also be harmful if the message contains a Trojan or another type of virus. These viruses not only affect the user’s computer, but everyone they send an email to after. There’s also the risk that a spammer sends an email that leads to the person falling for a scam and losing a large sum of money. That’s why anyone who receives a spam email should take steps to report it.

• The first step involves reading the email header on the spam email. The header is found at the top of the screen, underneath the information about the sender. This header includes the sender’s name, their email address, anyone else added to the email and the sender’s ISP number.
• Prior to filing a formal complaint, the individual should gather as much information as possible from the spam email. They will need the sender’s name, email address and the date and time of the email. Any other identifying information is also helpful including the ISP number and anything inside the actual email, if it was opened.
• The next step involves reporting the spammer to their service provider. There are several websites where a user can enter the ISP number and find the provider. Then it’s simply a matter of contacting that provider and informing them about the spam.
• Another way of reporting spam email is reporting it directly to the email account. For example in the email address [email protected], the xxx is the email creator such as Yahoo or Hotmail. The recipient can contact that company and let them know about the spam. However, many spammers are clever and make up email addresses and domain, so tracking it back to the ISP may be tricky.
• Contacting the spammer’s ISP through other ways is another option. Nearly every company lists a contact phone number and address as well as a customer complaint line. The recipient can contact the ISP in one of these ways and inform them about the spam.

To learn more about how to fight spam and report spammers, these resources may be helpful:

• The Top 10 Worst Spammers: lists the top spammers and details about the scam.
• Government Addresses for Reporting Spam: lists the correct contacts to forward spam to for each type of message.
• How do Spammers Harvest Email Addresses?: examines the steps spammers take to steal email addresses.
• Fight Spam on the Internet!: offers resources on stopping and preventing spam.
• FTC - Spam: information and advice from the Federal Trade Commission on stopping spammers.
• Stop Spam: provides resources that help users identify a spammer and stop them from continuing.
• Stop Spam FAQ: frequently asked questions with answers relating to spam and spammers.
• Web Hosting: Check with your ISP or hosting company to see if they have any special spam reporting methods.
• Stop Spam Alliance: organization devoted to helping consumers stop spam and prevent it from occurring.
• Spam Stop: offers free tools that help users stop spammers and spam email.