As you probably already know from firsthand experience, once you’re on a spammer’s list, it’s next to impossible to get off. To make matters worse, spammers resell your e-mail address to other spammers, multiplying the problem. If changing your e-mail address is a major inconvenience, then take heart with the following 5 tips for reducing your chances of getting on a spammer’s list in the first place:

1. Use a disposable e-mail address. If you buy products online or occasionally subscribe to web sites that interest you, chances are you’re going to get spammed. To avoid your main e-mail address from ending up on their broadcast list, set up a free Internet

e-mail address with Hotmail or Yahoo and use it when buying or opting in to online newsletters. You can also use a throwaway e-mail address when making purchases or subscribing to newsletters (see #4 below).

2. Pay attention to check boxes that automatically opt you in for newsletters and spam. Whenever you subscribe to a web site or make a purchase online, be very watchful of small, pre-checked boxes that say, “Yes! I want to receive offers from third party companies.” If you do not un-check the box to opt-out, your e-mail address can (and will) be sold to every online advertiser. To avoid this from happening, simply take a closer look at every online form you fill out.

3. Don’t use your main e-mail address on your web site, web forums, or newsgroups.

Spammers have special programs that can glean e-mail addresses from web sites without your permission. If you are posting to a web forum or newsgroup, use your disposable e-mail address instead of your main e-mail address. If you want to post an e-mail address on your home page, use “info@” and have all replies forwarded to a folder in your in-box that won’t interfere with your main address.

4. Create throwaway e-mail accounts. If you own a web domain, all mail going to an address at your domain is probably set up to come directly to you by default. For example, an e-mail addressed to anything@yourdomain.com will be delivered to your in-box. This is a great way to fight spam without missing out on important e-mails you want to get. The next time you sign up for a newsletter, use the title of the web site in your e-mail address. For example, if the web site is titled “petstuff.com,” enter “petsuff@yourdomain.com” as your e-mail address. If you get spammed, look at what address the spam was sent to.

If petstuff@yourdomain.com shows up as the original recipient, you know the source since that e-mail address was unique to that web site. Now you can easily stop the spam by making any e-mail sent to that address bounce back to the sender.

5. Don’t open, reply to or try to opt-out of obvious spam e-mails. Opening, replying to, or even clicking a bogus opt-out link in an obvious spam e-mail signals that your e-mail address is active, and more spam will follow. The only time it is safe to click on the opt-out link or reply to the e-mail is when the message was sent from a legitimate company you know or do business with.

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