Topping the 2004 List: Phishing/ID Theft Scams, Online
Medications & Vioxx, Mortgage Deals,
Stock Tips, and - Yes - 'Adult'
Themes
Sending Email Dulles, VA -
Wednesday December 29, 2004 - On
the 'outs' are old spam terms such as "Oprah", "Teens", and
"Viagra". The new 'in' spam terms for 2004 relate to 'phishing'
scams, dubious mortgage deals, online pharmacy items such as
Vioxx, and stock offers.
This is according to America Online's newly released list of most
widely sent junk email subject lines for 2004, as based on the
assessments and analysis of AOL's Antispam and Postmaster teams.
This is the second year AOL has released such a list.
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Reading Email The Top 10 list is based on spam reports forwarded to these
teams by AOL members during the 2004 calendar year - much of it
collected in the aggregate via use of the popular "Report Spam"
button on AOL.
Nyms not only combats spam, it is one more layer of protection against other email threats viruses, worms, spyware, adware, phishing scams, and more. Better than a spam filter, Nyms puts you in control of your incoming email because it uses disposable, alias addresses. When your Nyms email aliases are shared with spammers, you can simply disable that Nyms alias and stop the spam from flooding your real inbox. spam filter to pinpoint where unsolicited messages are coming from and kill spam at its source.
Storing Email "AOL members and all online consumers should make one of their
New Year's resolutions a cleaner, less cluttered email inbox," said
Charles Stiles, Manager of the Postmaster team within AOL's
Antispam Operations group. "We're already working hard behind the
scenes to can the spam and hammer the spammers. But online users
can help too - by taking these spam terms and updating the
spam-blocking tools on their internet
software. This will help them
block even more spam in 2005".
Riverside, CA 92516 Do you send order confirmations Yes, all online orders will automatically receive an order confirmation within one hour. If you do not receive a confirmation, your order did not go through the order system, 9817 to place a phone order. Spam blockers and spam filters may force the order confirmation into your email spam folder.
Email Software Spam - how did it change from 2003 to 2004?: AOL noted that the
"flavor" of spam changed noticeably in the Top 10 list from 2003 to
2004.
There are some things that you can do to make your online experience a little bit easier. There are some ways to keep spam from ruining your day. Spam filters are one of those things. Spam filters are an extremely successful way of managing or stopping unwanted emails, but occasionally they can work too well. While they can act very vigorously to keep your inbox from receiving spam, they can also prevent you from getting many of your wanted emails as well.
Antispam Software First and foremost was the rise in spam emails carrying
"phishing", or identity theft scams, which included
information/data theft schemes, those citing 'inheritances' to be
collected, and the infamous "Nigerian" scam. Second, there was a
switch by spammers to more text-based spam instead of image-based
spam, especially as it pertains to adult-themed junk emails. Third,
there was much less so-called "porn spam" in 2004 as compared to
2003. Fourth, much more spam in 2004 contained simply a URL address
or hyperlink, and nothing else.
Fight Spam Lastly, AOL noted that the type of spam isn't the only thing
that's changed in 2004: the kind of spammer sending has also
undergone a 'virtual makeover'. The Company stated that spammers
have become more "sophisticated, nefarious, shadowy, devious,
deceitful, sneaky, malicious, and - unfortunately - dedicated" in
the manner in which they send spam. Gone are most 'small-time'
spammers, and what is left are the 'hardcore, kingpin spammers'
that AOL says it will continue to vigorously target in 2005.
Stoping Spam Consumer Tips for Fighting Spam in 2005: AOL's Stiles also
offered the following consumer tips for fighting spam in 2005:
first, report as much spam as possible to your ISP...the more
consumers report spam, the more it will help ISPs block it; second,
review and 'fine-tune' your Spam Folder regularly, as this will
help customize and personalize consumers' email experience, and
will help increase the amount of good email consumers get in their
main email inbox and divert bad email to the Spam Folder; third,
use the 'unsubscribe' link in emails you get from known, trusted
marketers if you don't want to be on their email list
anymore...abiding by consumers' requests to unsubscribe is now
Federal law under the "CAN-SPAM" act.
Block Spam AOL's 'Top 10 Spam Email Subject Lines' of
2004**:
Spam Emails 1. "We carry the most popular medications" (Vioxx appeared
often*)
2. "You've been sent an Insta-Kiss!" (phishing/ID theft
scam*)
3. "You Have 17 New Pictures" (phishing/ID theft scam*)
4. "STEAMY HOT LESBIAN ACTION LIVE ON CAMERA!"
5. "All orders are shipped from authorized locations" (re: online
medications*)
6. "2005 Digital Cable Filters"
7. "F R E E* 30 Second Pre-Qualification MORTGAGE
Application"
8. "HURRY HURRY Hot Stock on the RISE"
9. "Sale PRICES ARE BEST ONLINE!"
10. "Breaking news on the Top Pick stock"
Email Account * Italics in parentheses above are AOL's own
notations.
Sending Email ** Source: AOL. This list is unscientific, and is not in any
specific order. The cited email subject headers are not ranked by
volume within the Top 10 list.
Reading Email *** Last year's Top 10 list is available at
http://corp.aol.com/press/spam_top10_2003.shtml
Storing Email About America Online, Inc.
Email Software America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of subsidiary
of Time Warner Inc. Based in Dulles, Virginia, America Online is
the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet
technologies and e-commerce services
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