B&B Watch

Recognise any of these phrases contained in emails you’ve received:

· "You don't think it's possible?"
· “A gift for you”
· “Congratulations”
· “Special Offer”
· URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
· “Something good will happen to you”
· "Wealth and freedom can, and should, be yours"
· STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
· "I want to give back."
· "These are proven principles that have long been the secret of the rich"
· "You have to be serious about..."
· "You have to be willing to pay a price."
· "Imagine The Possibilities"

These uninvited emails, also know as Spam, are often accompanied with an option to unsubscribe from their mailing list. Be wary of this, as it is often a way to verify that they have reached a real email account. By replying you’re confirming your presence on the internet and you may then find that you are targeted with more spam.

Many scammers use spam to promote fraud through uninvited emails.

Any e-mail you receive which:

· does not have an originator whom you know or who is clearly identifiable
· is not specifically addressed to you
· promises you some unrequested benefit

is likely to be spam and should be deleted immediately.

Scammers have access to lists of tens of thousands of email addresses. They send fraudulent emails to all addresses on those lists and can cover millions of Internet subscribers very quickly. Often they will attach word lists to registered Internet domains (i.e. bill @eircom.net, jim @eircom.net, murphy @eircom.net and so on) not even knowing if they are actual email addresses.
It doesn't matter to them that they might only get a handful of replies from the millions of emails they sent. A handful of victims at no cost is still a good deal to them.
Spam can also used to transmit viruses - that represents an added threat and therefore demands more vigilance.

Don’t let your curiosity get the better of you by opening dubious emails and above all, never open one with an attachment.