Unsolicited or hoax email

How to reduce it

Unsolicited email (known as 'spam') continues to be a problem for many people. However there are steps you can take to reduce the amount you receive:

• Only give your email address out to people you want to have it
• If you buy online, read the terms and conditions carefully and tick the box which prevents the retailer forwarding your details to others. Only use sites which are trusted.
• Contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) – they can block future emails from an identified sender.
• Once an ISP believes their network is being  used to send unlawful, unsolicited email, they can block all further temails sent to its subscribers from a specific address of domain.
• Never reply to spammers and never buy anything from them.
• Adjust settings on your email so junk email is filtered away.
• Invest in a spam filter

Chain messages

A hoax or chain message is any message (email, text, website) that encourages the reader to pass it on to others.

Chain messages can range from promises of money (a lottery win for example), stories promising good luck to hoax virus alerts. They are started for a number of reasons including generating money, harvesting personal data (email addresses), virus attacks and clogging up a network.

Chain messages can be annoying, offensive and sometimes threatening. Some even contain illegal content and by passing it on, you could be committing a criminal offence.

Advice

If you receive a message…

• Never forward on a message you suspect is a chain message
• Never click on any links or attachments.
• Never reply to a chain message, even if it says 'unsubscribe'
• Delete it.
• Report the scam to Consumer Direct - call 0845 040506 or visit the Consumer Direct website.

How to avoid chain messages…

• Choose an email address that is difficult for others to guess i.e. no names, ages, locations
• Don't put your email address on the internet
• Use a separate email account to your work or personal one when entering competitions etc online