Brightmail names 2001 spam shame list

Financial appeals claiming to be on behalf of the Twin Towers disaster, and a legal adviser to a political contender in Nigeria, are two of the three worst offenders for unwanted emails in inboxes.

But leading the way are offers for a herbal alternative to anti-impotence drug Viagra, which is responsible for more than 300,000 spam attacks in the last year, claims anti-spam group Brightmail.

The company, which has set up fake email accounts to attract spam addresses that can then be blocked by its technology, said three emails in particular had required blocking more than any other.

The herbal alternative to Viagra site was the most spammed message, while one claiming to be from the legal adviser to the former Nigerian armed forces chief, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babaginda came second.

An email relating to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre, which begins “As owner of Brand X Sports, I always made sure to keep my personal life and business life separate. After Tuesday September 11, 2001, that is no longer possible” was the third most blocked message.

The report comes as spam continues to remain in the headlines, with the EU set to ratify their ruling on individual member state choice for opting in or out of receiving email marketing messages in the New Year.