I opened my email the other day and upon reading a note from Nigeria I learned that I was a long lost beneficiary of $10 million from a previously unknown long lost relative.
All I had to do was to send my name, address, phone numbers, drivers license, copy of passport, and provide my bank information so they could send the funds my way and make all my financial dreams come true.
But there was a catch.
As they had to cover some expenses, I had to send some money via international wire to them. After they received that, they would most certainly send the money my way.
I ignored the email, and continued on thinking I would never receive another note like this again.
But the ‘hits' kept on coming, and coming, and coming with different amounts I would inherit and varied amounts I would have to send to make sure the transaction was complete.
By now, if I didn't know it before, this was a scam.
In response to international web-based criminal and fraudulent activity, the Canadian government has been developing anti-spam legislation, which took effect on July 1.
You may have already seen emails from the newsletters and web page updates you regularly receive asking your permission to continue to send emails to you. You now have the option to say yes or no to those companies and organizations you previously subscribed to.
That is a great thing.
Anyone who spends an appreciable amount of time online will manage to get themselves on mailing lists and receive information that makes sense at the time.
With the new legislation, anyone who sends emails for the purpose of commerce, or sends threats to commerce, such as the installation of computer programs and malware/viruses and the alteration of transmission data, without express consent will be affected.
The legislation lays out the penalties (up to $10 million) and answers questions about what type of emails are legal with remedies for the sending and reception of such communications.
Other than not granting consent to electronic mail you wish not to receive, there are several things computer users can do to ensure you are spam free.
Firstly, if you receive an email from an organization you no longer wish to continue with, choose the unsubscribe option on the email and leave the list. Another option is to also block the sender using your browser options.
Secondly, unless you really want to receive offer after offer for vitamins, travel, or business grant services, don't subscribe in the first place.
Thirdly, if you have an option to NOT provide an email address, don't. It may put you on an email list that will take forever to get off of.
While the anti-spam legislation will help decrease the amount of unwanted email hitting our inboxes, a simpler option is just to delete the offending email without opening it, and move on.
Oh, by the way, I'm not a Nigerian heir, I'm a Ugandan heir and for only $125, I can receive my $7.5 million next week.
Stay tuned. Dinner is on me if it arrives.
