Sorry, I didn’t intend to write an article today (or this early), but I just got another “cute” email from a family member. I think this one had funny pictures of wood or ugly babies or an internet hug or something I couldn’t get through the day without. They feel like it would be appreciated by me so I don’t yell at them.

What they didn’t do: Make my day

What they did do: They just gave my name to spammer

What do I mean? Well, good email collectors (by good, I mean bad guys who are good at what they do) create these “viral” emails and send them to a seed list. then, like the old Prell commercial, they tell two friends and they tell two friends and so on and so on. The next thing you know, there is a email out there with hundreds and hundreds of very valid email addresses, including mine (yet I’ve done nothing to put my info out there except given family members my info). These emails are incredibly valuable tools to true spammers (not just annoying ones, but often dangerous ones)

So what can you do? I suggest three things to help you in this battle:

1. Forward this URL to anyone in your life who sends you these emails. It’s tough to say STOP, but this article might shine some light on these emails for them. It’s a very polite way to say STOP….please!
2. If you feel that you absolutely must send one of these emails, send it to yourself and blind CC the people you want to send it to. This let’s you share email without compromising your friends.
3. Lastly and most importantly, forward this email to 10 friends in the next 10 minutes and receive good luck for a year

Be safe,
Ray