For more information on avoiding, managing and fighting Spam visit BU’s IS&T page

Many Internet Service Providers and manufacturers offer filtering software to limit the spam in their users’ email inboxes. The best way for computer users to fight spam is to report it using those tools, forward unwanted spam on to the appropriate enforcement authorities, and then hit delete.

Tips

Quick Facts: Some email users have lost money to bogus offers that arrived as spam in their in-box. Con artists are very cunning; they know how to make their claims seem legitimate. Some spam messages ask for your business, others invite you to a website with a detailed pitch. Either way, these tips can help you avoid spam scams:

  • Protect your personal information. Share credit card or other personal information only when you’re buying from a company you know and trust.
  • Know who you’re dealing with. Don’t do business with any company that won’t provide its name, street address, and telephone number.
  • Take your time. Resist any urge to “act now” despite the offer and the terms. Once you turn over your money, you may never get it back.
  • Read the small print. Get all promises in writing and review them carefully before you make a payment or sign a contract.
  • Never pay for a “free” gift. Disregard any offer that asks you to pay for a gift or prize. If it’s free or a gift, you shouldn’t have to pay for it. Free means free. Filter Tips: 10 Scams to Screen from Your Email
  • Never unsubscribe or reply
    Many spam e-mails contain a link to unsubscribe. Usually this is nothing but a way to confirm working e-mail addresses. Clicking this link has been shown to increase spam by more than 85 percent, while replying to the e-mail with a request to unsubscribe has been shown to increase spam by a staggering 192 percent.
  • Be familiar with common online scams

Email filters

If you have not already done so, it is highly recommended that you activate the spam filter for your email solution, whether online or not. Be sure to report spam as it comes in. If your software has a “this is spam” or “report spam” button, USE IT! This reports the message back to a central system that can then use that information to kill more spam from the same source.

Also, some companies report spam to the FTC so that further action may eventually be taken against the spammers.

Report Spam

  • If you believe you have received a phishing message, particularly one falsely claiming to be from BU: forward it to abuse@bu.edu along with the message headers and then delete it. If in doubt, call the IT Help Center (Charles River Campus (617) 353-4357, Medical Campus (617) 638-5914).

For more information, please visit these sites: