How do you stop it? Well, there are two easy steps:

(1) When you forward an e-mail, DELETE all of the other addresses that appear in the body of the message.  That's right, DELETE them.  Highlight them and delete them, backspace them, cut them, whatever it is you know how do. It only takes a second. You MUST click the 'Forward' button first and then you will have full editing capabilities against the body and headers of the message.

If you don't click on 'Forward' first, you won't be able to edit the message at all.

(2) Whenever you send an e-mail to more than one person, do NOT use the To: or Cc: columns for adding e-mail address.  Always use the BCC: (blind carbon copy) column for listing the e-mail addresses.  This is the way that people you send to only see their own e-mail address.  If you don't see your BCC: option click on where it says To: and your address list will appear.

Highlight the address and choose BCC: and that's it, it's that easy.  When you send to BCC: your message will automatically say 'Undisclosed Recipients' in the 'TO:' field of the people who receive it.  Have you ever gotten an email that is a petition? It states a position and asks you to add your name and address and to forward it to 10 or 15 people or your entire address book. The email can be forwarded on and on and can collect thousands of names and email addresses. 

 

A FACT: The completed petition is actually worth a couple of bucks to a professional spammer because of the wealth of valid names and email addresses contained therein.  If you want to support the petition, send it as your own personal letter to the intended recipient.  Your position may carry more weight as a personal letter than a laundry list name and email address on a petition.

So please, in the future, let's stop the junk mail and the viruses.

 

Remember also, if you get an email from a finacial institution or bank and need to reply do so through their REAL website. Get the online address and phone number from somewhere else, not the email. Do NOT use any links or phone numbers from the email as it may be a phishing scam!