Spam

Sadly, e-mail chain letters are a favorite mechanism of "spammers." Spam is unsolicited e-mail that is broadcast to a large number of e-mail addresses for the purpose of advertising.

According to some accounts, the term was taken from the classic Monty Python sketch in which the word spam is repeated to the point of absurdity—not unlike the e-mail message a spammer sends.)

In order to create spam, however, a list of valid e-mail addresses is required. E-mail chain letters provide a highly effective way to collect e-mail addresses. So do "virtual cards"—greeting cards that are sent via the Internet.

Here's a resource website regarding Internet hoaxes.

This chapter was written by Jeff Nyhoff and Joel Adams. Copy editing by Nancy Zylstra
©2005 Calvin University (formerly Calvin College), All Rights Reserved

If you encounter technical errors, contact computing@calvin.edu.