I can’t tell you the number of emails I get. I mean could tell you, but then I would have to actually count the number of emails. 

First, I would have to separate the real ones from the fake ones. Yes, I am talking about SPAM emails and not really the ones that are out phishing for credit card numbers or bank account information. I am actually referring to the many legitimate companies sending out unsolicited emails. I get a lot of those. 

Then I would have to separate the emails that are not real, but come from a company or person I know. The problem now of course is it is getting harder and harder to separate the real emails from the unwanted. I became increasingly aware of this about a year-and-a-half ago when I received and interesting piece of SPAM…from myself. 

Well, it wasn’t really from me in that I don’t have any companies that sell cheap watches but the “from” in the email had my name and my email. My IT person quickly educated me just about anyone can send an email “from” whomever they wish – it just takes a little computer trickery. 

Now I get about 2-3 emails from “me” every week. The spammers are selling anything from watches to online greeting cards. 

Spammers and Phishers do it for one reason. It is a numbers game and they have no interest in long-term business development. Nothing will burn your database (or potential customer base) than the loss of trust. 

Somewhere along the way lines became blurred. What is simply right and wrong started to have, for some people, gray areas. Solid business and personal ethics will always guide you in the right direction. 

Oh, and if you get an email from me to sell you a watch…I didn’t send it. 

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I received the following email this morning. Now before I go any further let me first say that, in capital letters, I KNOW IT IS A SCAM* – most of the emails you receive (other than those from family and friends) are, but no guarantee.  

*If I didn’t say, “I know it is a scam” then I would get several posts saying I need to be careful or watch out for these types of emails or that I am an idiot. 

The sad part is many people who received the email will respond. They will think “how sad for Ms. White” and “25% of 9 Million, sounds fair.”

These victims will forward “good faith” money on to “Mr. Yin Su Chow” and sit back and wait for their newfound objects of fortune to arrive (probably a boat, sports car, or anything NASCAR).

Click “More” to read the actual email…

Dear Friend, 

My name is Mr. Yin Su Chow. I am the auditor general and computer manager here in our bank. 

I have only written to seek your indulgence and assistance. I wish to make a transfer involving a sum amount of base 9,000,000.00 {Nine Million B.Pounds Sterlings} of Late Ms. Carol White out of the bank, she died since 1999, till now the account remain dormant/unclaimed. I am proposing to make this transfer to a designated bank account of your choice. Thus, for your indulgence and support, I propose an offer of 25% of the total amount to be yours after the transfer has been successfully concluded. 

Kindly reply me stating your interest, and I shall furnish you with the details and necessary procedure with which to make the transfer progress. I am anxiously awaiting your response through my confidential email address: 

More information will be given to you in my next mail. 

Regards,

Mr. Yin Su Chow. 

Nice letter. I feel bad I didn’t even know Ms. White was sick – I would have sent flowers; via email of course. 

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Finally, someone gets hit hard for one of the most annoying things to hit the Internet since Paris Hilton. 

Thirty-five-year-old Edward Davidson must report to prison (for 21 months) and he must also pay the IRS $715,000 for tax evasion. “Eddie” was sending spam (no, not the good kind pictured) with false e-mail headers meant to dupe stock investors. 

Here are the questions I have… 

Wesley Snipes was sentenced for three years in prison – over a year more than Davidson. Sure, both evaded taxes, but at least Snipes didn’t bother hundreds of thousands of the rest of us.  

Why the IRS? Well, Davidson made at least $3.5 million sending e-mails for nearly 20 companies. So, that brings up the question: “Who are the companies?” 

I hope they weren’t the e-mails that say Bill Gates is giving away the Nigerians’ money to pay for free meals at Chevy’s — those are real aren’t they?

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