Spam - noun: unsolicited, usually commercial E-mail, sent to a large number of addresses

You sit down at your computer, retrieve your email and see that you have 15 messages! Cool! Then you start reading them and twelve are trying to sell you something you don't want and don't need.

Before you follow the instructions in the email to tell them you don't ever want to hear from them...STOP! Most likely that will just tell them that they have a "live" email address and you will get more spam, not less.

Please don't misunderstand. We know how frustrating it can be. However, just like having a delivery address with the Post Office or a phone number, being on the Internet means getting junk mail. As you get more comfortable with reading email you will find it a simple matter to recognize it as something you don't want to see and simply delete it.

• Don't use AOL as your ISP. They are one of the largest advertising funnels on the Internet. MSN and Yahoo are right on their tail. You should own your own domain name and use that as your email address.
• When subscribing to any newsletters, promotions, email listservs or notices read their privacy statement first. If you don't want junk mail (SPAM) then don't subscribe to anything that doesn't specifically say they won't sell or give your address to anyone.
• Visit the sites listed below to learn about SPAM, report it or find ways to reduce it. 

  http://spamcop.net 
  http://www.whew.com/Spammers/reportspam_stepbystep.shtml 
  http://www.cauce.org