spam

Spam is internet slang for unsolicited commercial email (UCE) or unsolicited bulk email (UBE). These emails are received involuntarily and usually contain advertisements for products or services. According to Indiana University, email spam costs very little to send which allows spam emailers to send out thousands of emails to get a single response. Due to this efficiency, spam has been linked with email fraud, bank scams, illegal pirated software, and offensive messages. If a person wants to avoid spam, they should filter their email, avoid replying to spam, and exercise caution when releasing their email address. 

See also: 

• SPAM-related case law
• U.S. states with laws related to commercial email and SPAM
• The Inbox Project

[Last reviewed in April of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team]

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