Question: How do spammers get my Email address?
Answer: The three most common ways spammers get your Email address are:
1. Software known as robots can scan any Web site on the Internet for the at symbol (@) anywhere in the text. The robot automatically pulls your Email address if it is listed on any site.
After the robot's finished pulling Email addresses, spammers have a huge list of addresses to create a mailing list from.
2. Scanning Usenet postings is another way your Email address is collected and compiled into a mailing list.
3. Spammers buy lists from spammers. If someone's used one of the ways above to collect Email addresses, they now have an extensive list of Email addresses and are more than happy to share that list with paying spammers. The list with your Email address on it can be sold, sold and re-sold, flooding your inbox with hundreds or even thousands of unsolicted Emails.