When I first opened my gmail account, I never got spam; now it's a different story!

[Colleen]

Ugh, the spam is getting out of hand! When I switched to gmail I went for a lo-o-o-ong time with maybe a grand total of two spam emails. Now they come in droves. Granted, they do all end up in my spam folder. They're virtually all about, ahem, "getting it up" and the like. Some of the subject lines are so laughable. But still...I cringe when I go to empty my spam folder and there are two dozen emails blaring at me about getting an e*ection.:rolleyes:

Any way to combat this, short of changing my email addy?

[Beth in Central TX]

I am experiencing the same problem with gmail which was the main reason I left hotmail last year. It was such a pain to change my e-mail address, so I'm reluctant to change again. I'll watch this thread to see if you get any good advice.

[nestof3]

Great! :001_rolleyes:

My server is switching us over to that sometime today.

[Montana Peach]

The problem is that back then you had to have someone invite you to Gmail to make an account and thus the people on it were real people. The day it opened up and became public in the sense that you could just go to the site and register, the spam started. Granted, it has a better spam filter than most so it rarely ends up in my in box.

One thing you could do is set your Gmail so that you can retrieve your mail with Outlook or Eudora or Thunderbird, etc, and use one of the anti-spam add-ons.

[Crissy]

http://bestsmileys.com/angry1/19.gif
I've noticed the same thing in recent months. I don't often open the junk folder, but if I must (when someone's message hasn't reached my inbox, for example) I get so frustrated with the garbage.

[Colleen]

The problem is that back then you had to have someone invite you to Gmail to make an account and thus the people on it were real people. The day it opened up and became public in the sense that you could just go to the site and register, the spam started.

I didn't realize the invite aspect was gone now. That explains a lot. The difference is like day and night and it's just so offensive.

One thing you could do is set your Gmail so that you can retrieve your mail with Outlook or Eudora or Thunderbird, etc, and use one of the anti-spam add-ons.

Ummm...I don't get it. Speak to me "Retrieving Email for Idiots" terms, please.;)

[Susan in IL]

But I use Mailwasher (the free version) and have for years. http://www.mailwasher.net/ Check it out.

You start it and it checks the mail on the server and deletes it off the server without being downloaded onto your computer (where most spam folders are). You can even bounce emails so it make it look like yours is not a valid address.

I get tons of spam because I have an email address that is on a website (my choice) and that is where the little bots the troll the internet get it from.

Hope this helps.

[jellybean]

I know what you mean! I switched back over to yahoo from gmail. I thought it was wonderful that there were no ads on the page, but all the junk mail is just crazy!

[Montana Peach]

To use a regular email program (Outlook, Thunderbird, etc) to retrieve Gmail do this:

1) Log in and go to Settings (link is at teh upper right corner)

2) Click on Forwarding and POP/IMAP

3) Under Pop Download, click on enable Pop For All Mail; you can also set it to either keep the messages in Gmail or delete them there.

4) Click on the Configuration Instructions and it will tell you how to configure your email client to work with Gmail.


5) Click Save Changes

ONce all that is done, your email program will pull your Gmail and you can use Mailwasher or something similar

[tlcmom]

I started really noticing it since I did the survey on Ree's site. I don't know if it is just a coincidence or not. Did you do her survey?

[JudoMom]

But still...I cringe when I go to empty my spam folder and there are two dozen emails blaring at me about getting an e*ection.:rolleyes:


I really don't see the problem with them want you to participate in elections. :lol:

Sorry---it's been a loooong morning.

[j.griff]

I add email addy's to my address book, if I am expecting a message from someone. I usually just don't ever open my spam folder, I let it sit there and delete it's self. I didn't know the invite only thing was gone either, hmmmmm.

[Kate CA]

I didn't realize the invite aspect was gone now. That explains a lot. The difference is like day and night and it's just so offensive.



Ummm...I don't get it. Speak to me "Retrieving Email for Idiots" terms, please.;)

Well, since ya aren't an idiot I don't really know how to do that... :)

But I can help you. Do you have Outlook or Outlook Express on your system? If so, email me. :)

Edited to say that I didn't see someone has given you a little here: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?p=111905#poststop

Try that and if that does not help you, email me. :)

[hsmom]

I finally deleted my gmail for how much spam I was getting. I also have that problem with my yahoo. I love my hotmail. I have only had 3 or so spams and when I mark them unsafe I never hear from them again.

[Kate CA]

I finally deleted my gmail for how much spam I was getting. I also have that problem with my yahoo. I love my hotmail. I have only had 3 or so spams and when I mark them unsafe I never hear from them again.

That is so interesting to me! It is totally the opposite for me! :)

[Colleen]

...how long it'd be before someone said that.:D

[Colleen]

But I use Mailwasher (the free version) and have for years. http://www.mailwasher.net/ Check it out.

Thanks ~ I'll look into it!

[Colleen]

I usually just don't ever open my spam folder, I let it sit there and delete it's self.

That would be the simplest solution, wouldn't it?:) But I have this "thing" about seeing that number next to my spam folder and knowing there's junk sitting in there. I'm compelled to get rid of it. I also worry about my guys sitting down to use the computer and happening upon that junk. Well, not "worry" per se. I mean, I doubt a funky subject line about getting it up is going to even mean anything to them. But still...

[Colleen]

I got as far as this:

1) Log in and go to Settings (link is at teh upper right corner)

but nowhere do I see a place to click on this:

2) Click on Forwarding and POP/IMAP

I know this should be straight-forward...!