Re: http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=189680

In general, who have you found sells e-mail addresses to spammers, and
who doesn't?

Since I'm not paying much, a brief answer (even under 100 words) is
fine. I don't need any research or links, just a quick
two-or-three-sentence summary of your
personal experience.

Thank you.

Hi there!

I've only been using multiple aliases for about 6 months, after having
to give up a (sentimentally) valuable e-mail account because it was
receiving upwards of 3000 pieces of spam a week!  I had no clue where
it was coming from, so I set out to find out.

So far, the majority of spam seems to come from a single alias used to
sign up for Columbia House four months ago.  Holy cow!  They say they
"share" their lists with "reputable" companies...but those "reputable"
companies must share with plenty of others.

(Really, does someone named Missy need a penis enlargement??  People
who know me laugh at the number of "Increase your bust by INCHES!!!"
spams I get, too.  I don't need that kind of enlargement either!)

Free e-postcard sites share their lists as well, if you're not careful
to opt out (I've received several spams through my "cards" alias), and
several driver download sites have nicked me.  RealNetworks (the
RealPlayer people) will share your info if you don't opt out, as does
MyPoints and CoolSavings - all three aliases have shown up on spam.

Free e-mail provider tantric-goddess.zzn.com is a big winner in the
spam sweepstakes - I maintain several accounts there, as does my
sister and several of our friends.  We each have at least two that are
NEVER published anywhere, to use for private correspondence, and those
are filled daily with spam - sometimes more spam than the accounts
that *are* published!

Ask me again in a year, and I'm sure I'll have a very large list for
you!

--Missy

Thanks.  I enjoyed reading your answer.

3,000 a week!? I thought I got a lot.

you may find this of interest...
http://www.philb.com/spamex.htm

Like Missy, I had to give up an email address which had considerable
sentimental value. I was receiving more than 1000 items of unsolicited
mail a day, and maybe 10 or so real emails from people whose messages
mattered to me.

In my case, I believe that most of the spam was attributable to my
having used my "real" email address when I entered online contests and
sweepstakes. Checking the opt-out boxes does not seem to keep one's
info from being widely distributed to those who sell magic
organ-enlarging creams for both sexes, get-rich-quick scams, and
time-share condo hucksters who are offering a "free vacation."

A recent article is helpful for this very question -- a study of which
kinds of email addresses attract spam, and how to avoid it:
http://www.cdt.org/speech/spam/030319spamreport.shtml
 
--ravuri-ga

e-bay has a draconian policy of opting out -- you are automatically
"opted-in", and then have to change your preferences to opt-out. When
you do so, you're told it will take two days to process your request.

So -- when I made an account there, I filled out all the info,
including my phone number. I immediately went and changed my
preferences to opt-out, and was told of the two day rule.

The next morning, I got a phone call from someone trying to sell me a
satellite dish (at my work number, which I had given e-bay.) Amazing!

I've been using unique aliases for almost 3 years, and iBill (and
hence any site that uses them) is the only one I've come across that
I've gotten unrelated spam to. There are some that send a lot of mail,
and I seem to have trouble unsubscribing to (e.g. buy.com), but I
haven't gotten any otherwise unidentifiable spam to those addresses.

I should also note that I only use a "real" email alias if I expect or
desire to get an email there. For things that don't require an email
to be received (e.g. RealPlayer), I just type gibberish.

The real killer is if an address shows up on the web or newsgroups.