email from Home Depot explains rash of scam/spam emails

The fact is that online transactions do require an email address. You can always setup a separate email account, or use an alias email address for online purchases, such as offered by Microsoft Outlook.com. It forwards emails to your primary account. You can even send/reply to email using the alias@outlook.com. The business never sees your actual email address.

GMail does have one of the best anti-spam systems of all email providers. You can use it in an indirect way by auto forwarding your current email to a Gmail account if possible? Then set the "Reply to" option in GMail so email responses will still be sent to your current email account. Basically, you end up using GMail instead to read/write/reply, while still use your old email address.

If you're not already doing so, you may be able to use an email client to manage your account. Such as Outlook or Thunderbird. Many of which support multiple spam filtering options.

But yet another method is to use email filters. I have over 10 different email accounts managed through Thunderbird. I used to be inundated with unimportant emails from the likes of Newegg, Redbox, Ebay, Groupon, Alumni Assoc, other non-profit orgs, etc which tend to clutter your Inbox. The simple solution is to just unsubscribe to them. But some contain info I may be interested. Just only when, and if I have the free time to do so.

By using filters, these less than important emails get auto sorted into a separate folder for Review. The result being that I have been able to reduce emails in my Inbox from about 50-60 a day, to less than 10 total across all accounts. Sans my enterprise email, which requires special access. I also have the Review folder auto trash emails if I don't get around to read them after a certain number of days. Those in my Inbox have to be manually deleted.

Note that order invoices and receipts from online transactions do not get filtered, and still arrive in my Inbox. Most businesses use separate sub-domain address for them, so doesn't get mixed up with other news or offers.

Like Thunder Mountain, I bought a large item online fro Home Depot for home delivery. It was not available at the store. As with any online purchase, it takes an email. I have two email addresses, one primary and one for unknown persons and online businesses. Easy to do with gmail, hot mail, yahoo etc. I also have a secondary credit card with a low limit that is for online purchases. Little disruption if compromised and needs to be replaced. And yes, I still shop there.

Whoa there... I read many emails from my bank and investment companies. Do I open embedded links and logon to my account? No, I click on my appropriate bookmarks. Do I get reams of monthly paper statements in the mail? Nope, all via email.

I could care less who has my "public" email address. I let Google handle the spam email. Honestly they do a great job.

X2 It is called common sense.

I couldn't care less who has my email. Gmail trashes my spam before I even see it.

I get between 100 and 300 SPAM a day, most of them (all but one or two) are filtered by my mail servers so on two of my E-dresses I will scan the headers, on the remaining E-Dress I do not even do that, just bulk delete every month or so.

This time of year people start feeling the need for more $$$ to buy junk for the kids (Toys, more food than needed, Candy that kind of junk) so naturally they fire up their spam-a-lot programs to try and rip you off with scam-spam.

This costs the country a few Billion every year,, What we need is effective anti-spam rules so that the spammers pay for it.

Of course even that does not always work.. I still get paper scams in the US mail.

I have a personal email address. Only closest friends and important business get that address. I have a junk email address for everyone else. Works for me

magicbus wrote:
Whoa there... I read many emails from my bank and investment companies. Do I open embedded links and logon to my account? No, I click on my appropriate bookmarks. Do I get reams of monthly paper statements in the mail? Nope, all via email.

I could care less who has my "public" email address. I let Google handle the spam email. Honestly they do a great job.

Dave

X2 here... Since we're on the road most of the time, getting all that snail mail would be a real PITA.

Whoa there... I read many emails from my bank and investment companies. Do I open embedded links and logon to my account? No, I click on my appropriate bookmarks. Do I get reams of monthly paper statements in the mail? Nope, all via email.

I could care less who has my "public" email address. I let Google handle the spam email. Honestly they do a great job.

Dave

riven1950 wrote:

I do shop at Home Depot and Lowes, they do not and will never get my email or phone number from me.. I personally do not wish to wade through hundreds of emails or phone calls from the stores I purchase from.

I agree with you but as a licensed contractor with accounts at both Lowes and HD it is kind of hard to avoid giving out basic info which includes phone number and e-mail.

I received the same letter that OP received. Also got the CC breach letter from HD back months ago.

Unlike OP I have not had a big increase in spam e-mails, at least so far.

I get a weekly e-mail from HD which I usually just scan for deals and delete. I don't think Lowes has ever sent me an e-mail unsolicited.

Bottom line is it could happen to any retailer, and if you read the fine print on most websites you deal with you agree to a lot more than you think. They may not sell your info but almost all share your e-mail with their " partners ".

Business "accounts" with ANY BRICKS AND STICKS ALSO DO NOT "NEED" YOUR "EMAIL", PERIOD.

Phone number I can understand however there is no reason for any store to HAVE TO CONTACT YOU VIA EMAIL if there is an issue with your account. In fact I dump ANY unsolicited Email from anyone I specifically do not have in my Email LIST.

Even BANKS DO NOT REQUIRE your Email for business accounts therefore no other business should be requiring it as part of your business account..

You wouldn't ever dream of opening an Email from your bank, would you? Pretty much every scammer uses this way to scam many people EVERY DAY. They send a spoof Email to your address loaded with an malware attachment or link..

You open the Email or link and you get either Malware or sent to another spoofed website where you ultimately are asked personal info like account numbers, SS number, address, passwords in order to confirm your account of "fix" a "problem with your account..

I am simply amazed how lax people have gotten as they make technology more and more of their daily life.. They give out Emails and phone numbers like they are water..

I give out my Email addresses only to folks I personally know or a FEW businesses in which I would like a order conformation via Email.

I simply do not want to wade through hundreds of Emails a day..

After a good 15+ years I only get 1 scam/spam email a month or sometimes not at all for MONTHS AT A TIME.

I do shop at Home Depot and Lowes, they do not and will never get my email or phone number from me.. I personally do not wish to wade through hundreds of emails or phone calls from the stores I purchase from.

I agree with you but as a licensed contractor with accounts at both Lowes and HD it is kind of hard to avoid giving out basic info which includes phone number and e-mail.

I received the same letter that OP received. Also got the CC breach letter from HD back months ago.

Unlike OP I have not had a big increase in spam e-mails, at least so far.

I get a weekly e-mail from HD which I usually just scan for deals and delete. I don't think Lowes has ever sent me an e-mail unsolicited.

Bottom line is it could happen to any retailer, and if you read the fine print on most websites you deal with you agree to a lot more than you think. They may not sell your info but almost all share your e-mail with their " partners ".