How to Use SpamCop to Fight Spam

If you're receiving too many unsolicited bulk commercial emails on your PC or server, you can fight back with SpamCop, a free spam reporting service. It analyzes (parses) emails to determine the spammer's true ISP (Internet Service Provider). With your permission, SpamCop reports to network administrators at the spammer's ISP of the violation. After investigating the message, administrators may terminate the spammer's email account.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Register at the SpamCop website and provide a primary email address it can send a password to and any responses from reported offenders' ISPs.

2. Alert SpamCop about a spam message either by forwarding the email or copying it into the window provided under the "Report Spam" tab at its website.

3. Include all header information in the email, because it contains clues about the spammer's true ISP. Often the "From:" and "Reply to:" addresses are forged and unreliable. For more information about viewing headers in e-mails, visit the site's FAQ. SpamCop also requires text from the spam message body. It cannot generate a report without this information.

4. Wait for a message from SpamCop. Once the service processes the spam and determines the origin of the spammer's ISP, it sends you a link to finish reporting it.

5. Review the information for accuracy, then click the "Send Spam report(s) Now" button.

Tips & Warnings

• Report spam right away, as SpamCop only processes messages up to two days old.

Resources

• SpamCop website