| This problem has been around since the | | | | coming from senders having a title to their |
| dawning of Adam and Eve. When the Lord | | | | names, it is a good bet these are Nigerian |
| punished them for eating from the Tree of | | | | 419 messages that are scams. Messages coming |
| Knowledge, He wisely left out the punishment | | | | from a bank where you do not have an account |
| called Getting Rid Of The Junk. They had to | | | | are "pfishing" scams that have gone astray. |
| figure out how to get rid of the trash. | | | | Beware of messages coming from senders that |
| | | | use your financial institution. Flag them, |
| Today, the Information Age piles up all kinds | | | | then check on their validity later. |
| of trash. All of it is electronic. Most of | | | | |
| it is unsolicited. A lot of it is scam. A | | | | NEVER open a message containing an attach |
| typical inbox will get over 1000 messages a | | | | file coming from a sender you do not know. |
| day, most of which is unsolicited junk. | | | | This is an open invitation to destroy your |
| | | | computer by allowing viruses or spyware / |
| To combat this plague, we have resorted to | | | | malware to enter your system. |
| innovations such as spam filters, junk e-mail | | | | |
| filters, and blocking software such as super | | | | Step 6 Sort the In Box by Subject. This |
| duper firewalls. Some of these devices do | | | | will group all remaining messages by Subject. |
| not work very well, and many of them get rid | | | | Most of these messages are spam or are from |
| of valuable e-mail. Junk e-mail will still | | | | scam operators. Here is what to watch for: |
| get through. Valuable e-mail will still get | | | | |
| blocked. | | | | Messages starting out with dots, dollar |
| | | | signs, currency amounts, or any other non |
| Because computers still cannot reason, a | | | | alphabetic characters: These are spam. |
| human being must still filter the junk mail | | | | Delete. |
| and save the valuable e-mail. Here is how I | | | | |
| do it. I will be the first to admit it is | | | | Messages starting out with your name. The |
| not totally fool proof. | | | | sender is trying to personalize the message. |
| | | | You do not know the sender from Adam or Eve. |
| Step 1: Open Microsoft Outlook Express. All | | | | Delete |
| of the incoming e-mails will be read into the | | | | |
| in-basket. I go get coffee or else catch up | | | | Messages starting out with "Congratulations" |
| on writing. | | | | What major accomplishment did you do that |
| | | | rates a pat on the back? This is spam / |
| Step 2. Sort the in-basket by date and time | | | | scam. Delete |
| received | | | | |
| | | | Messages starting out with splash |
| Step 3. Flag each message I think is | | | | introductions. You didn't ask for a splash. |
| important. It could be from an important | | | | These are UCE otherwise known as SPAM. |
| person or company or it could have a Subject | | | | Delete. |
| that catches my interest. Be very careful | | | | |
| to flag everything and don't miss anything. | | | | Messages coming from an unknown sender with |
| | | | all capitol letters. These are Spam. delete |
| Step 4 Click on the Flag icon at the top of | | | | |
| the Outlook Express toolbar. Then, select | | | | Messages starting out with "You" These could |
| all the flagged messages by pressing Shift + | | | | be SPAM but this isn't certain. |
| click for the bottom message in the grouup. | | | | |
| Then move the group using drag and drop to a | | | | If the sender is a legitimate person as |
| special category box I've named called | | | | opposed to an autoresponder, you may |
| Flagged Items. This takes all the good stuff | | | | recognize the Subject may convey enough |
| out of the In Basket and saves them. | | | | interest to make you read the message. |
| | | | Again, nothing is certain. |
| Step 5 Sort the In Basket by Sender. Then, | | | | |
| review the In Basket by scrolling down the | | | | If you get 1000 messages a day, this |
| sorted list. This will catch any good stuff | | | | screening technique will reduce the load to a |
| that might have been missed. When you find | | | | more manageable 200 messages. Again, |
| any good stuff, flag it and when done, group | | | | remember that nothing is certain. You could |
| the flagged items and move the group to the | | | | be letting in SPAM / SCAM into your system. |
| flagged item box | | | | On the other hand, you could be blocking out |
| | | | valuable e-mail. Remember, computers cannot |
| Note also that you will see messages from | | | | reason, but you can. |
| senders you do not know. If you see messages | | | | |