Where does all the junk come from? In the mid-90s, Usenet newsgroups (also called "discussion groups" or "bulletin boards") were the number one source of email addresses for spammers. Today, the most common origin is web pages, especially if they’re listed in a search engine or directory. Some people have tried foiling address-seeking spambots by inserting the word “UNSPAM” in capitals in the Email Database middle of all email addresses on their sites.
This stops auto spammers working but Email Database enables human beings to work out what to do. Spammers also harvest addresses from headers of messages you send to friends who forward Email Database them to their friends (a good reason for using BCC -- blind carbon copy rather than simple CC which displays all recipients – although some people filter out mail sent using BCC as many spammers also use it). Other sources include open e-mail discussion lists and web pages that invite you to "insert your address here to be on a 'do not mail' list”.
Spammers can simply guess addresses by Email Database generating lists of popular names and random words attached to common domains Once on a spam list, the only way to get off is to change addresses. If you reply or respond to instructions to “remove”, your Email Database message will simply confirm your address is valid and you’ll get even more junk. Depending on your email client, you can try tracing junk back to its owner by contacting the server listed in the full message header information (the From address is generally fake - check your Help files to find out how to "reveal full headers").
