Spammers Take Advantage of Mom's Day

Datamation content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

Here’s a gift Mom isn’t likely to receive on Mother’s Day — an inbox only filled with legitimate e-mail. This holiday is just one more opportunity for spammers, as Brightmail estimates that more than 10 million spam messages relating to the holiday have been sent since April 28^th 2003.

“We’ve seen a trend in the past year of not only dramatically increased volumes of spam, but more seasonally specific spam attacks,” said Enrique Salem, president and CEO of Brightmail. “Over the past two weeks, spammers have bombarded millions of e-mail users with unwanted Mother’s Day-related messages. The only good thing that comes of this is that no e-mail user will forget Mother’s Day this year.”

The Top 10 Mother’s Day-Related spam subject lines of 2003 are:

Fresh Mother’s Day Flowers at Growers’ Prices – from 29.99
Send Mom Two Dozen Roses + Chocolates & Vase are on us!
Say Happy Mother’s Day with Genuine Pearls & 14 KT. Gold
Name a Star for Mom on Mother’s Day
Send Mom a gift she can cherish
Remember Mom – May 11th!
It’s Not Too Late To Save on Mother’s Day Gifts!
Pamper her on Mother’s Day
The Most Personal Gift For Mother’s Day
Hate Vacuuming? Free Shark Cordless Sweeper Trial

The third most popular holiday in the U.S. is finding a comfortable home online, as a survey conducted for SBC Communications Inc. found that 38 percent of the 616 respondents would buy a gift or gift certificate online.

“Americans are making the Internet an essential part of their lives, depending on its ease, convenience and speed to handle important tasks like planning for Mother’s Day, even if its at the last minute,” said Deven Nongbri, SBC associate director of Internet marketing. “In fact, one of the benefits of high-speed Internet access is that you don’t have to rush at the very last moment to get things done. It’s as simple as a click of the mouse to order gifts or flowers, or send a personalized e-greeting.”

Americans who live in different cities then their mothers rely on the Internet more for last minute planning. When they are down to the last few days before Mother’s Day, 49 percent of respondents who live in a different town then their moms said they would go online to order and send flowers, compared to 29 percent who procrastinate but live in the same town.

The survey also found that 40 percent would order and send flowers, 32 percent would send a photo, video, or e-greeting, and 23 percent would make reservations for dinner, a movie or other activities.

The poll also looked at how Americans keep in touch with their moms throughout the year. Nearly 84 percent of participants prefer to hear mom’s voice, and choose the telephone as their most frequent method for keeping in touch. E-mail is more popular than regular mail, though, with 15 percent choosing the Internet to chat with mom versus 13 percent who send letters. Young adults ages 18-24 are far more likely then older Americans aged 45 and older to frequently use the Internet for staying in touch, 21 percent versus 5 percent.