To help combat spam, e-mail users should follow these recommendations:

• Never make a purchase from an unsolicited e-mail
  Not only can an e-mail user fall prey to a potentially fraudulent sales scheme, but his or her e-mail address can also be added to the numerous e-mail lists that are sold within the spamming community, further compounding the number of junk e-mails received.
• If you do not know the sender of an unsolicited e-mail message, DELETE it.  While most SPAM is usually just annoying text, a junk-mail message could contain a virus and/or other exploit that could damage the computers of all who open and execute the virus.
• Never respond to any SPAM messages or click on any links in the message
  Replying to any spam message, even to "unsubscribe" or be "removed" from the e-mail list only confirms to the spammer that you are a valid recipient and a perfect target for future spamming.
• Avoid using the preview pane/functionality in your e-mail client software
  Many spammers use advertising techniques that can track when a message is viewed, even if you don't click on the message or reply. Using the preview functionality essentially opens an e-mail and tells spammers you are a valid recipient, which can result in even more spam.
• Use the blind copy (BCC) field to conceal e-mail addresses of recipients
  Sending e-mail where all recipient addresses are "exposed" in the "To" field makes it vulnerable to harvesting by a spammer's traps.
• Never provide your e-mail address on websites, newsgroup lists or other online public forums
  Many spammers utilise "web bots" that automatically surf the internet to harvest e-mail addresses from public information and forums.
  Never give your primary e-mail address to anyone or any site you don't trust
  Share it only with your close friends and business colleagues.
• Use one or two secondary e-mail addresses
  If you need to fill out web registration forms, or surveys at sites from which you don't want to receive further information, consider using a secondary address to protect primary e-mail accounts from abuse.

Conscientious end users who follow these suggestions will ultimately play a significant role in reducing the amount of spam that enters their organization's e-mail system, especially when automated spam-filtering supplements their efforts.