Chapter 1: The Spam Folder Chronicles

Checking my spam folder can be quite entertaining at times. While my email service generally does a commendable job of filtering unwanted messages, it’s not foolproof. I often find myself sifting through those spam folders to ensure that important emails don’t end up lost in the abyss. [It does happen occasionally.]

Gone are the days of receiving emails from people claiming to have millions to share due to terminal illnesses. It’s perplexing how so many “sick” individuals could be so active online, each with the same fabricated story. Having friends who have battled cancer makes it frustrating to see scammers exploit such a serious issue.

These days, I’m inundated with notifications that my Netflix subscription has been suspended due to payment issues. The same goes for my accounts with Comcast, Sirius, Hulu, Prime, and iCloud, just to name a few.

You would think I’d be grateful for the numerous alerts I receive—almost hourly—yet the sender addresses are a jumble of random letters and numbers reminiscent of suggested passwords. For example:

• McAfee [email protected]
• SiriusXM ®︎ <[email protected]>
• Netflix [email protected]
• Netflix [email protected]
• Xfinity [email protected]

Since I have no desire to copy and paste all these dubious addresses, I should mention I also receive enticing offers from Lowe's, Home Depot, Tractor Supply, Kohls, and stores I’ve never heard of. The allure of “super duper gifts” is enticing, but here’s the kicker—I don’t even have accounts with these companies!

Adding to the chaos, I’m bombarded by endless emails promoting “make money with AI” schemes. They promise that I can write books, create courses, and achieve financial success with minimal effort! It’s no wonder platforms like Medium are tightening their rules on AI content to curb exploitation.

While there are countless other spam messages, I have no interest in indulging in this “fun” activity any longer—my garden awaits!

Here, humor aside, lies an important lesson: safeguarding your data is crucial.

Be cautious with links in suspicious emails. When explaining to someone how to differentiate between spam and legitimate correspondence, advise them that most emails filtering into their spam folder are likely not worth their time. Moreover, they should always scrutinize the return email addresses without clicking on anything. Simply hovering over the sender's name and email can reveal much. If it seems odd, it probably is!

You can often read snippets of the email content by hovering over the subject line as well. For instance, hovering over “Watch the demo…” can reveal more details without ever having to click on the message. This feature may have emerged recently, but it’s a valuable tool: viewing without clicking!

Of course, we all accidentally click on spam occasionally—it’s part of life. However, it’s crucial not to engage with any links in those emails. They might appear legitimate, but they often lead to spoof sites that become increasingly convincing as spammers refine their tactics. If you suspect a payment is overdue, always navigate directly to the official site instead of relying on email links.

The first video, How to Check Your SPAM Folder in Gmail, provides a comprehensive guide on effectively managing your spam emails.

Chapter 2: The Rising Threat of Text Spam

Text messages can also serve as a channel for spam. Commonly, I receive texts that appear to be from FedEx, USPS, and Amazon, claiming there’s an issue with a package that requires my address due to a “mislabeled” situation.

The same advice applies here: always check the sender's address. If the message shows up on your phone as having been sent to numerous recipients, it’s likely not intended for you, signaling that it’s spam.

Additionally, it’s wise to report such texts as spam to your mobile service provider.

Staying vigilant online can lead to some amusing moments, provided you exercise caution. Even I, who often chuckle at spam, have been ignoring more of it lately as the tactics become increasingly sophisticated.

The second video, READING MY SPAM EMAILS, humorously showcases the absurdity of spam emails and offers insights on how to recognize them.