6 Reasons Why Spam Email Is So Successful

by Lee on August 21, 2008

in Spam

I would imagine that if you mention the words ’spam’ and ‘email’ to most people, then they will associate those two words with something very much like this -

Or at least that’s what they would have you believe.

Have you ever wondered why spam email continues unabated, growing at an alarming rate, when just about everyone says they hate it?

Could it be because, secretly, 29% of the internet population has bought something pitched to them through junk mail?

Whilst publicly slating spam email, almost a third of internet users have found the following illegal, or at least slightly dubious, items via their inboxes -

  1. pirated software
  2. fake designer watches
  3. counterfeit designer clothes
  4. restricted drugs
  5. prescription medicines
  6. pornography

Have you ever purchased something through spam email and, if so, why?

Thanks to Kim Woodbridge for the inspiration for this post.

Protect Yourself From Email Scams – Click Here!

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    { 16 comments… read them below or add one }

    1 robert October 10, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    what is tht picture..is tht chocolate cake? ha ha

    Reply

    2 Pink Biz September 8, 2008 at 11:04 pm

    Trying to avoid eye contact with the picture helps a little.

    Now, subject line email scam of the day?
    “Be the object of desire with magic pills”

    I had to chuckle at this one. I thought desire was the object.

    Reply

    3 Karen August 25, 2008 at 6:33 am

    One picture. One word.

    GROSS

    Reply

    4 Pink Biz August 23, 2008 at 4:13 pm

    A less than delightful picture left imprinted momentarily in my brain. It is rather grotesque and thus so is email spam. I agree with Kim, I get a good laugh at some of the subject lines myself. Some are just purely hysterical! :D

    Reply

    5 Pete August 22, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    Well THAT just put me off eating my breakfast and possibly lunch too!

    Reply

    6 Col August 21, 2008 at 2:31 pm

    When I saw that photo I thought this story was going to be a steaming pile of…. :D

    Reply

    7 Lee August 21, 2008 at 1:20 pm

    For those of you who may be confused, Kim inspired the article, NOT the picture!

    Reply

    8 Kim Woodbridge August 21, 2008 at 1:25 pm

    Oh man – you are really trying to make me stronger emotionally.

    I wonder a bit about the results of that survey. 29% seems really high to me. Well, maybe not – there must be a lot of men concerned about their size who are purchasing the enhancement products.

    I have never purchased anything offered via spam as I have no money left after giving it all to a group specializing in credit elimination ;-)

    As much as I detest spam, I do laugh at many of the subject lines.

    Reply

    9 Lee August 21, 2008 at 1:31 pm

    I think the survey resulats were a little skewed due to the target audience and the relatively small number of people polled.

    However, I think it likely that many people do buy from spam, otherwise it would cease to exist.

    Those enhancement products don’t work – Lord knows I’ve tried them all :oops:

    Now you’ve got rid of your debts things should be better.. email me as I have a business proposal involving $11,000,000 (eleven million US dollars) that I have hidden in Nigeria.

    Reply

    10 Lee August 21, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    And, worringly, it was! ha ha

    Reply

    11 Lee August 22, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    Hey, I’m always happy to help people lose weight :D

    Reply

    12 Lee August 24, 2008 at 12:08 am

    Hey!

    There’s nothing wrong with my picture choices! :D

    Do you get many spam comments you two? Some of those are amusing, especially when I get 50+ lame comments from the same ip in the same day – do they really think I’ll approve any of them?

    Or the comments with 200 links in them, as if I want any of that rubbish on my blog!

    Reply

    13 Lee August 25, 2008 at 12:31 pm

    Does that mean you’re not interested in buying the original photo for the knock down price of $20? :D

    Reply

    14 Lee September 8, 2008 at 11:06 pm

    Hmmmm… spam email titles… that’s given me an idea for a post.

    Thanks! :)

    Reply

    15 Pink Biz September 9, 2008 at 3:31 am

    You’re welcome. Can’t wait to know what you thought of for a post.

    Reply

    16 Lee September 9, 2008 at 10:46 am

    You’ll find out soon…

    Reply

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