Unsolicited or hoax email

• Only give your email address out to people you want to have it
• If you buy online, read the terms and conditions carefully and tick the box which prevents the retailer forwarding your details to others. Only use sites which are trusted.
• Contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) – they can block future emails from an identified sender.
• Once an ISP believes their network is being  used to send unlawful, unsolicited email, they can block all further emails sent to its subscribers from a specific address of domain.
• Never reply to spammers and never buy anything from them.
• Adjust settings on your email so junk email is filtered away.
• Invest in a spam filter

Chain messages

• A hoax or chain message is any message (email, text, website) that encourages the reader to pass it on to others.
• Chain messages can range from promises of money (a lottery win for example), stories promising good luck to hoax virus alerts. They are started for a number of reasons including generating money, harvesting personal data (email addresses), virus attacks and clogging up a network.
• Chain messages can be annoying, offensive and sometimes threatening. Some even contain illegal content and by passing it on, you could be committing a criminal offence.

Advice

If you receive a message:

• Never forward on a message you suspect is a chain message
• Never click on any links or attachments.
• Never reply to a chain message, even if it says 'unsubscribe'
• Delete it.
• Report the scam to the Citizens Advice consumer service - call 03454 040506.

How to avoid chain messages:

• Choose an email address that is difficult for others to guess i.e. no names, ages, locations
• Don't put your email address on the internet
• Use a separate email account to your work or personal one when entering competitions etc. online