How to check who sold your email address to spammers?

Written on June 3, 2008 – 6:25 pm | by Sanil S
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This entry is part 6 of 13 in the series gmail tricks

A lot of websites are selling email address to spammers. Here is a workaround how to find those who sell your email address to spammers by using gmail address while registering in websites.

I am using the same magic for which I used to create your notes using gmail account.

In normal case famous websites are selling these email address to spammers. So while registering in websites use the combination of user name + website name@gmail.com.

Suppose your gmail user name is `user` and website you registering is `http://www.xyz.com`, then while entering the email address in registration field use the combination user+xyz@gmail.com. As I mentioned in my earlier post that gmail won’t recognize anything after a `+` symbol. If there is any confirmation mail for registration it will definitely reach your mail box.

When ever you get a spam mail check out the ’show details’ that will reveal you who sell your email address to spammers.

So next time while registering in sites use the combination I suggested and try to find out who all are selling those email address to spammers and do comment those websites here. So that we can collect the database.

Series Navigation«How to create your own notes using gmail?How to start group chat using gmail webchat»

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6 Responses

I believe spammers and the email address selling websites are aware of this old trick.


Gopinath M on Jun 3, 2008 | Reply

Good idea man. :-)
Shall update soon. :-)


SAF on Jun 4, 2008 | Reply

unfortunately forms do not recognize + as a valid email charecter….yahoo still rocks with its temp. email!


TheAnand on Jun 4, 2008 | Reply

May be good idea, but most of the website never accept a “+” sign in the email address field .

But it contains another news that gmail skips the letter combination before plus. That was a new info for me.


Later Sythoos


Sajith on Jun 9, 2008 | Reply

I’ve been using a similar technique for a decade or so.

BUT I have my own domains with catch-all accounts. I give each domain their own email address like iamatechie.com@mydomain.com. Then, when I get spam to that address, I just assign the address to an email account with only 1k of space, so the messages all bounce and I never have to hear from them again.

lowermybills.com sold my address, and I’ve been getting 2-3 419 scams a day to that address now. Time to shout it from the rooftops, and shut off that address.


Been Doing That for 10 Years on Jun 13, 2008 | Reply

Yo that is cool idea.


Sanil S on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply

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