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unsubscribe.com - Who are they, are they for real? Anti spam organistaion?

Hello,

This is a question for anti spammer experts.

My spam mail has finally become a problem to the extent that I want to do something about it.

While trying to unsubscribe from a few places that I had actually signed up for ( yeah, I know! ) I was somehow redirected to a site which is called UNSUBSCRIBE.COM or similar name. The URl is : http://www.un-sub.net/?link=&clicktrade= .

What they have written on their web site is brief and limited but it sounds like it is a real anti spam attempt.

I have emailed them for more info though and they have failed to respond which makes me immediately suspicious as does their URL. They also don't have any help on " how to " issues on their site. Could be that is because they are new and understaffed, who knows.

I don't want to slur any genuine attempt to stop spam but equally, if they are not for real, I want to make others aware of it

So my question is in two parts :

. Are they for real and do they really help, or are they just another way for dumbos like me to actually give away live email addresses, and

. What is the best site, if any, that actually does what this site says it does.

My points will be awarded to the first answer that can resolve both of these questions. I'm willing to award nearly all my points to get expert help on this. I won't do this immediately though as the best answer may not be the first that sounds right. Answer 3,4 or 5 may give the best overall reply/answer. So I'll wait about 1 week as a balance between speedy awarding of points and the best info. I won't let it hang for eons of time as some questions seem to.

I do not want any advice as to how to stop spam as I do the right thing. I have a real email address for real business and personal matters and never use this for subscribing, entering competitions, answering surveys etc.

I use several hotmail accounts for comps, surveys and so on where my interest has been attracted.

I use all the free hotmail facilities for sorting and deleting junk mail.

I use outlook express to block etc where needed.

I have several free programs which will filter junk mail from real addresses if needed.

Thanks to any who respond.

Centore

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Pete Long

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centore

ASKER

Just to clarify. For some reason the words " business " and " account " have been displayed in my question as links to things I know nothing about. So please don't follow these links they were added by this site.

Centore

SOLUTION

SunBow

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centore

ASKER

Hey,

Thanks for the info so far. I appreciate it and will obviously be doing some reading at the sites you have referred.

For Sunbow. Yes, worms are a huge issue and I certainly see your point about more central points of live email addresses. Defeats the purpose doesn't it, bringing it back to the individual level?

Thanks for the advice about the correct forum. However maybe I posted it in the right place as not too many will respond. You have both given me plenty to follow up on as it is!! Thanks for that ( I think ).

Whilst I appreciate the links, they aren't of much value to me if I don't have your opinion on them. That is what I am looking for, opinions about what works and what doesn't. Equally I can't see any point to me checking out links you may have found unsatisfactory or deficient in their purpose. Are you able to comment on these links at all or maybe point me to posts where you have previously done this. I'd check them all myself but it would help to know what others think or have found before me.

Thanks for your efforts already

Best

Centore

SOLUTION

HeadIdiot

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SOLUTION

Mike McCracken

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Member_2_231077

Protect yourself from spam by submitting you email address here...

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. You didn't really enter your email address on that form did you?

centore

ASKER

For Andy,

Haven't you got anything better to do?

For Head,

Is the one your signed up with the same as the link I showed above? So far I've had only a decrease in email to that address but that may be because I unsubribed to a few of the major ones which all came from putting in my real address in error. Fingers crossed. I still have no idea how I got to that site in the first place. If it does become a problem I'll know it is them ( unsub.com ) and hopefully use the info I get from you people to add them to the right list as an email address collector.

For Mimcc,

I think you are right. Some of those unsubscribes are definitely collectors. It's hard to tell the difference isn't it. I unsubscribe to those that I know I subscribed to in the above mentioned accident ( what a dumbo ).

Foryunately my ISP provides extra email aliases so I can easily drop this one if need be.

Thanks except for Andy.

Centore

Member_2_231077

***edited by CS***

SOLUTION

pigpogm

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centore

ASKER

Most points for Pete who gave a detailed process which has been very helpful.

20 for Sunbow for the effort but I have no interest in solutions which are not recommended by the submitter.

20 each for others, mainly for the effort and participation. I appreciate all those comments. Of course, none for Andy. Perhaps Andy you might appreciate it if I choose to make comments about any questions you may enter along the same lines you did. And perhaps not.

No one really answered half my question but Pete's advice allowed me to reach my own conclusion.

Thanks

Centore

HeadIdiot

Thanks for the points, but I think we answered both parts:
1) does unsubscribe.com work? No
2) which one does? spamcop.net

Mike McCracken

Thanks. Glad i could help

mlmcc

pigpogm

Thanks. Just to add to the whole spamcop thing - i did use them for a while, with assistance from a couple of little utilities linked from their site, and i was fairly sure the amout of spam i got fell after a while. Eventually, i gave up on it, though, as taking the time to report each bit of spam just took more time than i had. If you can spare the time/effort, though, spamcop is great because it actually *achieves* something for everyone - getting the spammers' accounts cancelled. MailWasher might help you, but doesn't do anything for anyone else.

Pete Long

ThanQ