Trend Micro</a></em></p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Button","_identifier":"block-193408","data":{"text":"Download ScamAdviser app. Stop Scams","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/download-browser-extension-app"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-94491","data":{"text":"<p>If you&rsquo;ve owned a computer, phone, or other internet-connected devices, you have definitely come across spam before. It can come in many forms &mdash; some more malicious than others &mdash; but it is never welcome. If you&rsquo;re looking for the low-down on spam and to learn how to block it, keep on reading!</p>\r\n<h2>What Is Spam?</h2>\r\n<p>Spam is annoying, unsolicited digital messages. It is almost always sent out in large volumes to lots of people, typically to advertise a product, service, or website, or spread malicious software or phishing scams.</p>\r\n<p>Spam is spread in a variety of ways, including emails, text messages, phone calls, and social media messages or posts</p>\r\n<h2>Spam Examples and Dangers</h2>\r\n<p>If you&rsquo;re a regular reader of this blog, you&rsquo;ll know that we post a lot about <a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://news.trendmicro.com/tag/phishing//">phishing scams</a>. Nowadays, a large amount of spam is phishing scams. Below are some examples.</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageText","_identifier":"block-94504","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/spam-1-10438.png_900x.png","text":"http://<p>Netflix text message spam. <a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://news.trendmicro.com/2022/09/09/metamask-usps-netflix-costco-paypal-phishing-scams-text-payment-email//">Source

","reverseOrder":false}},{"_template":"Articles//ImageText","_identifier":"block-94518","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/spam-2-a42a9.png_900x.png","text":"http://

USPS text message spam. <a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://news.trendmicro.com/2022/09/09/metamask-usps-netflix-costco-paypal-phishing-scams-text-payment-email//">Source

","reverseOrder":false}},{"_template":"Articles//ImageText","_identifier":"block-94532","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/spam-3-530e4.png_900x.png","text":"http://

Walmart email spam. <a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://news.trendmicro.com/2022/08/26/back-to-school-phishing-scams-costco-walmart-kohls-cvs//">Source

","reverseOrder":false}},{"_template":"Articles//Text","_identifier":"block-94546","data":{"text":"

The spam examples above, like many spam messages these days are both annoying and malicious, and for many people, it&rsquo;s not uncommon to receive tens, or even hundreds of similar messages every week.</p>\r\n<p>The fact that they fill your inbox with junk aside, these messages could also cause some serious harm. One thing all the above examples have in common is that they are designed to trick people into inadvertently sharing their personal and/or financial information.</p>\r\n<p>People have been tricked into sharing all kinds of important information with scammers and spammers, including their name, address, Social Security number, bank account number, and more. If the bad guys get ahold of enough of your information, they can potentially do any of the following:</p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Take out new credit cards under your name.</li>\r\n<li>Steal your tax refund.</li>\r\n<li>Take out money from your banking or investment accounts.</li>\r\n<li>Open new utility or telecom accounts under your name.</li>\r\n<li>Get medical treatment under your name.</li>\r\n<li>Post your information on the internet/dark web.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2>How to Block Spam Calls and Texts</h2>\r\n<p><a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://api.link.trendmicro.com/events/landing-page?product_id=4cc29&amp;source=blog&amp;platform=mobile&amp;utm_content=what-is-spam-how-to-stop-block-text-email\%22>Trend Micro Check</a> blocks spam texts and phone calls so you&rsquo;re never bothered by the spammers again. The app &mdash; which is 100% free &mdash; can stop spam text messages sent to your phone number, as well as any messages sent to your messaging apps. Whether you use WhatsApp, Telegram, Tinder, or anything else, you&rsquo;ll never see another annoying message again.</p>\r\n<p><a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://api.link.trendmicro.com/events/landing-page?product_id=4cc29&amp;source=blog&amp;platform=mobile&amp;utm_content=what-is-spam-how-to-stop-block-text-email\%22>Trend Micro Check</a> can help you avoid spam calls, too. You&rsquo;ll receive an alert any time a telemarketer, robocaller, scammer, or spammer dials your number, so you know not to pick up.</p>\r\n<p>Download <a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://api.link.trendmicro.com/events/landing-page?product_id=4cc29&amp;source=blog&amp;platform=mobile&amp;utm_content=what-is-spam-how-to-stop-block-text-email\%22>Trend Micro Check</a> today and defeat the spammers and scammers once and for all!</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-94559","data":{"text":"<p>Source: <a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://unsplash.com/photos/mRgffV3Hc6c/">Unsplash.com

/r/n

📱 Make the Most of ScamAdviser Everywhere You Go</strong></p>\r\n<p>Check websites, numbers, IBANs &amp; wallets in seconds.<br />Spot red flags before they spot you &mdash; install the app now!</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ButtonGroup","_identifier":"block-193414","data":{"buttons":[{"_template":"Articles\\Button","_identifier":"block-193415","data":{"text":"Download the ScamAdviser App for Android","link":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tech.scamadviser"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Button","_identifier":"block-193418","data":{"text":"Download the ScamAdviser App for iOS","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/download-browser-extension-app"}}]}}],"sidebarBlocks":[{"_template":"Small\\Content\\Cta","_identifier":"block-157084","data":{"title":"Report a Scam!","consumer":null,"description":"Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!","image":"https://files.scamadviser.com/thumbs/tell-your-story-8910e.png_200x200.png","button":"Report a Scam!","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/leave-review"}},{"_template":"Small\\Content\\Taxonomy","_identifier":"block-157123","data":{"title":"Scam Categories","taxonomies":[{"id":7,"name":"Scam Alerts (1025)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-alerts"},{"id":6,"name":"Scam Trends (372)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-trends"},{"id":8,"name":"Global Scam Country Guide (44)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/global-scam-country-guide"},{"id":87,"name":"Product Reviews (43)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/product-reviews"},{"id":88,"name":"Fact Check (43)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/fact-check"},{"id":3,"name":"News about Scamadviser (42)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/news-about-scamadviser"},{"id":5,"name":"Reliable Sites (37)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/reliable-sites"},{"id":1,"name":"Tips & Support (32)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/tips-support"},{"id":2,"name":"Research & Reports (26)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/research-reports"},{"id":4,"name":"Advice for Companies (2)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/advice-for-companies"}]}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Heading","_identifier":"block-59407","data":{"align":"left","text":"Help & Info","size":"large"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157795","data":{"articles":[{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157824","data":{"title":"Scam Alerts","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-alerts","icon":"fa-exclamation-triangle","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-scam-alert-f348b.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157839","data":{"title":"Learn Scams","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-trends","icon":"fa-tags","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-learn-scam-737a6.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157854","data":{"title":"Reliable Sites","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/reliable-sites","icon":"fa-check-circle","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-website-213fb.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157869","data":{"title":"Advices","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/advice-for-companies","icon":"fa-comment","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-advice-f32d8.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157884","data":{"title":"Studies","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/research-reports","icon":"fa-search","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-report-ebc61.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-161131","data":{"title":"Global Scams","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/global-scam-country-guide","icon":"fa-globe","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-global-scam-005ad.svg"}}],"buttonText":"See all","buttonLink":"https://www.scamadviser.com/help-info"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Heading","_identifier":"block-167997","data":{"align":"left","text":"Top Safety Picks","size":"large"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Lists","_identifier":"block-167811","data":{"heading":"Your Go-To Tools for Online Safety","hint":"Disclaimer: Some of the links here are affiliate links. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.","description":null,"listItems":[{"_template":"Default\\Items\\ListItem","_identifier":"block-167891","data":{"title":"ScamAdviser App - iOS","titleUrl":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scamadviser/id6480509109","linkTarget":"1","text":"Your personal scam detector, on the go! Check website safety, report scams, and get instant alerts. Available on iOS"}},{"_template":"Default\\Items\\ListItem","_identifier":"block-167944","data":{"title":"ScamAdviser App - Android","titleUrl":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tech.scamadviser","linkTarget":"1","text":"Your personal scam detector, on the go! Check website safety, report scams, and get instant alerts. Available on Android."}},{"_template":"Default\\Items\\ListItem","_identifier":"block-169734","data":{"title":"NordVPN","titleUrl":"http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101566658-13382109","linkTarget":"1","text":"NordVPN keeps your connection private and secure whether you are at home, traveling, or streaming from another country. It protects your data, blocks unwanted ads and trackers, and helps you access your paid subscriptions anywhere. Try it Today!"}},{"_template":"Default\\Items\\ListItem","_identifier":"block-171573","data":{"title":"Incogni","titleUrl":"http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101566658-15718702","linkTarget":"1","text":"Incogni automatically removes your personal data from data brokers that trade in personal information online, helping reduce scam and identity theft risks without the hassle of manual opt-outs. Reclaim your privacy now!"}}]}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Heading","_identifier":"block-59517","data":{"align":"left","text":"Popular Stories","size":"large"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Blogs","_identifier":"block-59530","data":{"items":[{"id":1406,"title":"7 Best VPN Services for Security, Speed, and Privacy","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/7-best-vpn-services-for-security-speed-and-privacy","excerpt":"In a nutshell: A good VPN protects your privacy with strong encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and fast protocols like WireGuard. The best VPNs also offer wide server coverage, leak protection, and easy-to-use apps for all devices. For 2025, the top providers are NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, and Mullvad—each excelling in speed, security, or value.\r\n\r\nIn an age where every click is tracked, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is no longer just a luxury—it's an essential tool for digital privacy and security. A VPN works by creating a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet, masking your real IP address and protecting your sensitive data from prying eyes.\r\nBut with hundreds of providers out there, how do you sort the secure from the suspect? This guide breaks down the non-negotiable features of a quality VPN and highlights the 7 top-rated services for 2025.\r\nWhat to Look for in a Good VPN: The 4 Non-Negotiable Pillars\r\n1. Ironclad Security Features\r\n\r\nStrong Encryption: AES-256, the gold standard.\r\nSecure Protocols: OpenVPN, WireGuard, NordLynx, Lightway. Avoid PPTP.\r\nKill Switch: Ensures no accidental IP leaks.\r\nLeak Protection: Covers DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC.\r\n\r\n2. Verified Privacy Practices\r\n\r\nNo-Logs Policy: No activity or metadata tracking.\r\nIndependent Audits: Verification by third parties.\r\nSafe Jurisdiction: Prefer countries outside the 5/9/14 Eyes alliances.\r\n\r\n3. High-Speed Performance\r\n\r\nFast Protocols: WireGuard and equivalents.\r\nLarge Server Network: Less crowding, more reliable speeds.\r\n\r\n4. Essential Usability Features\r\n\r\nMulti-Device Apps: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, routers.\r\nSimultaneous Connections: One account, many devices.\r\nUnblocking Power: Netflix, Hulu, BBC ","buttonText":"Read more","renderAsInertiaLink":false},{"id":1475,"title":"Data Breach Victim? Your Emergency Action Plan Starts Now","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/data-breach-victim-your-emergency-action-plan-starts-now","excerpt":"How to Protect Yourself and Your Family After a Data Breach\r\nWhen Your Data Falls Into the Wrong Hands\r\nJust received that terrifying notification? Or perhaps you've noticed suspicious activity in your accounts? Take a deep breath. A data breach, the unauthorized access or exposure of sensitive, protected, or confidential data, is a deeply unsettling event. It can plunge you into a world of worry, bringing risks from financial losses and identity theft to significant emotional distress and reputational damage.\r\nThe numbers don't lie: according to a 2024 report, the number of data breach victim notices has grown by a staggering 211% year-over-year. This isn't just a distant threat; it's a stark reality many individuals face. This year alone, we've seen major organizations like Adidas and Qantas grapple with high-profile data breaches, affecting countless customers. This underscores a critical truth: nobody is untouchable. Subsequently, strategic action is the only way to minimize the risk and protect your future.\r\nThis guide is your emergency action plan, designed to walk you through every crucial step—from confirming the breach to fortifying your digital life for the long term.\r\nPart 1: Confirming the Breach and Understanding the Damage\r\nThe very first step is to answer the question definitively: Was my data compromised, and if so, how badly?\r\nStart with the basics:\r\n\r\nCheck Official NotificationsReputable companies are legally obligated to inform you if your data was part of a breach. Look for official emails, letters, or public announcements.\r\nCheck Verified Breach DatabasesPlatforms like HaveIBeenPwned help you see if","buttonText":"Read more","renderAsInertiaLink":false}]}}],"meta":{"title":"What Is Spam and How to Stop It?","description":"If you’ve owned a computer, phone, or other internet-connected devices, you have definitely come across spam before. 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