What is Spam/How is it created?

Spammers fall into a variety of categories – but my definition is as follows: “People who send unsolicited email to a large number of recipients for the purpose of engaging them to buy something without the a valid method to be removed from the email list”

There are certainly “legitimate” companies that email you unsolicited mail – sometimes you want it, sometimes you don’t. For example your bank will send you notices from time to time about changes in their services and the like. That’s fine – because if I don’t care, I know that if I “unsubscribe” that I will get off the email list AND they won’t sell/trade/barter/give my name to any third party. There are other sources of mass mailings such as Newsletters or vendors (like iTunes) that send you mail because you purchased something through them. Again – you can always safely unsubscribe.

This is totally unlike the companies/individuals that are trying to sell me prescriptions, watches, or a low rate mortgage. They acquired (or used software to guess) your email address in order to lure you into some sort of offer.