America Online announces 2nd Annual
'Top 10 Spam Terms'
Topping the 2004 List: Phishing/ID Theft
Scams, Online Medications and Vioxx, Mortgage Deals, Stock Tips, and -
yes - 'Adult' Themes
On the 'outs' are old spam terms such as "Oprah", "Teens",
and "Viagra". The new 'in' spam terms for 2004 relate to 'phishing'
scams, dubious mortgage deals, online pharmacy items such as Vioxx, and
stock offers.
This is according to America Online's newly released list of most widely
sent junk email subject lines for 2004, as based on the assessments and
analysis of AOL's Antispam and Postmaster teams. This is the second year
AOL has released such a list.
The Top 10 list is based on spam reports forwarded to these teams by
AOL members during the 2004 calendar year - much of it collected in the
aggregate via use of the popular "Report Spam" button on AOL.
"AOL members and all online consumers should make one of their New
Year's resolutions a cleaner, less cluttered email inbox," said Charles
Stiles, Manager of the Postmaster team within AOL's Antispam Operations
group. "We're already working hard behind the scenes to can the spam
and hammer the spammers. But online users can help too - by taking these
spam terms and updating the spam-blocking tools on their internet software.
This will help them block even more spam in 2005".
Spam - how did it change from 2003 to 2004?: AOL noted that the "flavor"
of spam changed noticeably in the Top 10 list from 2003 to 2004.
First and foremost was the rise in spam emails carrying "phishing",
or identity theft scams, which included information/data theft schemes,
those citing 'inheritances' to be collected, and the infamous "Nigerian"
scam.
Second, there was a switch by spammers to more text-based spam instead
of image-based spam, especially as it pertains to adult-themed junk emails.
Third, there was much less so-called "porn spam" in 2004 as
compared to 2003. Fourth, much more spam in 2004 contained simply a URL
address or hyperlink, and nothing else.
Lastly, AOL noted that the type of spam isn't the only thing that's changed
in 2004: the kind of spammer sending has also undergone a 'virtual makeover'.
The Company stated that spammers have become more "sophisticated,
nefarious, shadowy, devious, deceitful, sneaky, malicious, and - unfortunately
- dedicated" in the manner in which they send spam. Gone are most
'small-time' spammers, and what is left are the 'hardcore, kingpin spammers'
that AOL says it will continue to vigorously target in 2005.
Consumer Tips for Fighting Spam in 2005: AOL's Stiles also offered the
following consumer tips for fighting spam in 2005: first, report as much
spam as possible to your ISP...the more consumers report spam, the more
it will help ISPs block it; second, review and 'fine-tune' your Spam Folder
regularly, as this will help customize and personalize consumers' email
experience, and will help increase the amount of good email consumers
get in their main email inbox and divert bad email to the Spam Folder;
third, use the 'unsubscribe' link in emails you get from known, trusted
marketers if you don't want to be on their email list anymore...abiding
by consumers' requests to unsubscribe is now Federal law under the "CAN-SPAM"
act.
AOL's 'Top 10 Spam Email Subject Lines' of 2004**:
1. "We carry the most popular medications" (Vioxx
appeared often*)
2. "You've been sent an Insta-Kiss!" (phishing/ID theft scam*)
3. "You Have 17 New Pictures" (phishing/ID theft scam*)
4. "STEAMY HOT LESBIAN ACTION LIVE ON CAMERA!"
5. "All orders are shipped from authorized locations" (re:
online medications*)
6. "2005 Digital Cable Filters"
7. "F R E E* 30 Second Pre-Qualification MORTGAGE Application"
8. "HURRY HURRY Hot Stock on the RISE"
9. "Sale PRICES ARE BEST ONLINE!"
10. "Breaking news on the Top Pick stock"
* Italics in parentheses above are AOL's own notations.
** Source: AOL. This list is unscientific, and is not in any specific
order. The cited email subject headers are not ranked by volume within
the Top 10 list.
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