Facts For Consumers

Don't Want Your Email Address Harvested?

1. Consider “masking” your email address.

“johndoe@myisp.com” could be masked as “johndoe@spamaway.myisp.com”

2. Keep your private email address private:

  • Use a separate screen name for online
    chatting.
     
  • Consider creating “disposable email
    addresses” for public postings in
    newsgroups or on websites, or for online
    purchases.
     
  • Consider using one email account for
    personal correspondence and another for
    public use.

3. Use a unique email address, containing both letters and numbers.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

November 2002