Using your name in your email address might not be the best idea

Here’s a simple tip that will help you quickly identify spam emails quickly. Many spammers use sophisticated software to extract your name from your email address. For example, if your email address is catherine.smith62@whateva.com , the software picks up your name as Catherine. So when you open your email, you may be shocked to see:

Dear Catherine,

We have a great deal for you today. You can lose up to 3 pounds a day on our new rutabagas diet! Eat all you want up to 30,000 calories a day and still lose weight. That’s right, Catherine, you can drink all the shakes you want, stuff down burgers, and eat mountains of French fries and still lose 3 pounds a day.

What’s the secret? We’re not going to tell you. This is valuable information. So, Catherine, here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to give you $10.00 off our great secret.

Interested, Catherine? You betcha!

…and yada, yada, yada.

See? Putting your name in your email address isn’t a really good idea. What if, for example, your email address was iamthewalrus@whateva.com . The email above would begin “Dear Iamthewalrus” and you’d know at a glance that it didn’t come from anyone you know. What friends would call you Iamthewalrus?

So, the next time you need to create an email address, avoid the temptation to try to get something as close to your real name as you can – and go for something completely different than your real name. You’ll be able to identify the scammers and spammers more quickly if your real name doesn’t appear in your email address.

This is a simple tip, but one that can save you time — and trouble.