Crime Hidden in Email Spam

Abstract

Email spam is one of the most overlooked crimes. Most people and law enforcement agencies dismiss it as a nuisance and do not deem it worthwhile to devote too many resources to reporting or investigating it. Very few researchers would see email spam as a research topic worth exploring, either. However, email spam can be and has become an ideal disguise for criminal activities. Aside from the fact that email spam itself is a crime, this article intends to introduce readers to the ideas regarding how spam may be linked to other crimes, including scam, fraud, illicit drug sales, electronic fencing, sex crimes, and malware. Moreover, email spam can be used to facilitate covert communication among criminals and provide guidance for entering the dark web without drawing too much attention from the authorities.