The most recent statistics show that about 90% of sent e-mails are spam. Users receive only a very small part of the letters, for example, Inbox.lv spam filters daily block eight million spam e-mails and only 6.75% of the total amount of spam mails gets into our users’ mailboxes! More about what types of spam exist and how to avoid them tells us Inbox.lv office manager Maija Jautre.

It should be remembered that spam can be various – both informative and friendly, and one which can cause significant financial damage. In the context of the latter type of spam, U.S. law enforcement authorities estimate that the fraudulent e-mails in one year throughout the world cause losses about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars.

Advertisements are usually considered to be safe spam, where we quite often can find great deals and useful offers. In turn, harmful spam messages are those, where the sender’s goal is extortion or fraud by obtaining user’s personal information (called “phishing”), as well as the propagation of computer viruses.

Inbox.lv fights and protects their users daily, making use of the latest anti-spam technologies, as well as addressing the issue at the national level. For example, in collaboration with CERT.LV Inbox.lv has developed a Latvian Spammers blacklist.

It also includes some suggestions how the user can reduce the number of spam letters received. First, delete the spam letter without opening it. Opening the letter will confirm active e-mail address, so the spam senders will continue to bother You with such letters further. Second, do not disclose Your e-mail address on public Web sites (if it really needs to be done, then do it “creatively”, e.g. as username [at] inbox [dot] lv). Third, when creating a new e-mail address, select the potentially longer and more complex name.

More information about spam letters and protection You will find in the “Inbox Help” section. If you have any additional questions about spam and Your e-mail account protection, please contact us by e-mail support@inbox.lv.