I would like to inform you that one of the biggest concerns for victims of email abuse is "How did they get my email address?"
Firstly, Virgin Media do not pass on email addresses and our database is secure.
There are various ways for a Spammer to get a mailing list:
Spammers can auto-generate mailing lists by using simple algorithms and a directory of names. They generate a list of names which will look like:
firstname.b@, firstname.c@, firstname.d@ etc.
Once this list is generated they can then add to it a list of Internet Service Providers, such as firstname.b@virgin.net, firstname.b@anotherisp.co.uk, firstname.b@andanotherisp.com and so on. In many cases these addresses will be invalid, but a number will be valid.
Newsgroups and bulletin boards are often used as a source of email addresses. If a user is vocal on the newsgroups it is highly likely that their email address has been purged from here. It is always advisable to use an alias email address when posting to newsgroups, e.g. firstname.b@nospam.virgin.net (in order to send email, remove the nospam section).
The majority of spam will not show the recipients.
You can also set up mail filters, using the Virgin Media Webmail service.
You can block email addresses by adding them to your 'Blocked Senders' filter. A filter is a feature that automatically selects mail as it arrives in your inbox, according to criteria that you specify.
Once you have created the filter, you can add names to it from any email you receive.
Blocking a sender - creating a Blocked Senders Filter:
1. Open a message from the sender, whose mail you want to block.
2. On the top right hand side of the Received message window there are three links. Click the 'Block Sender' link.
3. Click OK in the confirmation box.
To edit the Blocked Senders Filter:
1. Click on the Options tab to open the Options area.
2. Click on the 'Mail' link on the left-hand side.
3. Scroll to the 'Filters' section.
4. Click on the 'Blocked Senders Filter' in the filter's list to select it.
5. Click the 'Edit' button to open the Edit Blocked Senders Filter.
6. Make any amendments you need.
7. Click OK to save your changes.
To disable the Blocked Senders Filter:
Either:
1. Follow the instructions in the above section: 'To edit the Blocked Senders Filter'.
2. Select 'Make filter inactive' in the Edit Blocked Senders Filter window.
3. Click OK to save.
Alternatively:
1. Select the Blocked Senders Filter from within the Active Filters list.
2. Click 'Move Down' to move the filter into the Inactive Filters list.
I hope this helps, if you need any further assistance with the Webmail service, there is a very comprehensive help section which you can view by clicking on the 'Help' button at the top of the screen.
If you are finding spam a particular problem, you may wish to look at some of the newer protections that are now being advertised on the Internet.
You can also contact our online chat support, where our Technical Support agents will be able to help you. Please click on the link below, and enter your Virgin Media email address and password to access our online chat agents.
www.virgin.net/customers/contactus
In the next window click on the button which says 'Online help' and a small window will pop up wherein you would be able to live chat with agents online.
The technicians here will be able to access your computer remotely and if possible, they will be able to fix the problem remotely as well.
I would like to inform you that we do not support Incredimail.
If you need any further assistance please contact us again, or visit the following address:
http://www.virgin.net/helpme/
Many Thanks
Sonia
Virgin Media Customer Support