Identifying SPAM
Opt-in and Opt-out Bulk Mailing lists
Bulk email can be split into two categories. Opt-in is email that you requested (or at least agreed to receive by signing up for a mailing, for example). Legitimate bulk emailers use Opt-in. Opt-out is a system whereby the sender finds your address by means other than by your direct request (harvesting addresses from web-sites or public discussion forums), then asks you to request removal if you do not want to receive future email. Altitude 800 classifies opt-out email as SPAM.
Did you request the SPAM ?
In general, email from reputable companies are opt-in, and if you receive email purporting to be from a company you would normally consider to be legitimate, you should consider carefully the possibility that you did agree to receive it sometime in the past. If you are positive that you did not request to be included in their mailing list, then it may be someone attempting to appear to be a representative of the company in question, but who actually does not have the consent of the company. Occasionally, large, otherwise reputable organizations will "accidentally" send out unsolicited email. The main domain-name registry, Network Solutions, is a notable example of this. It has in the past sent outright SPAM and has been widely criticized for this action among anti-SPAM enthusiasts. If you are sure that you did not request the email, then you are well within your rights to report it as SPAM.
Hoaxes and form letters
Often, people receive email warning them of a dire threat due to new viruses or offering amazing rewards for continuing a chain letter. Even seemingly innocent emails like petitions can circulate for years. Any email asking you to distribute copies of it should be viewed very skeptically. However, this type of email is not normally considered SPAM. Usually the sender is an acquaintance - not someone you want to report as a SPAMMER. It is much better to simply reply to the sender and explain the situation to them - "this email is a hoax, please don't send me this type of thing" - or whatever applies. Be sure to reply only to the sender of the email, not "reply to all" since this will send your response to the other recipients as well.
Your options to eliminate SPAM
It's impossible to completely filter out spam email via administrative means within the server without losing legitimate mail. It's sort of like asking the post office to toss everything except checks and deliver only those checks to your mailbox. You can, however, eliminate quite a bit of SPAM using the following methods:
Setting Mail Filters in your email program
Most email programs offer an email filter or mail rules option in preferences. Click here for an example of how to set your email to filter spam mail.
Reporting SPAM
SPAM should be reported to abuse@altitude800.com
Altitude 800 will investigate reports, but they must contain the following:
- Subject of message with complete headers. If you do not know how to obtain complete headers please go to: http://SPAMcop.net/fom-serve/cache/19.html
- Complete body of offending email.
- Any other details described briefly that pertain to the incident.
Mailing lists
Altitude 800 respects your occasional need to send email using an opt-in group of email addresses - meaning only those acquired by your company from viewers actually requesting to be on your mailing list. All such emails must have a removal option link or email address within the body or footer of the email message.
Altitude 800 is serious about combatting SPAM. If after investigation and due process, the user is deemed a chronic SPAMMER, they will be removed from the Altitude 800 network. If it is determined an Altitude 800 client is a "haven" for SPAMMERS or is associated with its SPAMMING customers, the user will be removed from the Altitude 800 network. If clients have been issued 1st and 2nd warnings and the complaints continue, we will consider that the client is either associated with, or is a haven to SPAMMERS, and remove them from the Altitude 800 network.