Controlling Spam

Page Under Development

We never permit sending unsolicited bulk commercial email (spam) from a WELL account, nor do we sell, rent or divulge customer email addresses for any external purpose. We don’t place or display ads on your email. 

How does The WELL control spam?
How is spam marked ?
I forward my WELL mail elsewhere. Will spam be removed first?

Can I get a new WELL email address?

Answers

:How does the WELL control spam?

The WELL does not permit sending unsolicited bulk commercial email or spam from a WELL account, nor do we sell, rent or otherwise divulge customer email addresses for any external purpose.  In an ongoing effort to fight spam, the WELL is adding enhancements to our spam filtering system for all incoming WELL email. The filter assigns scores in three tiers:    obvious spam (i.e. Nigerian Prince), possible spam (i.e. re-finance your mortgage), and likely not spam (email from your Mom).  Highly likely spam gets deleted, possible spam gets marked, and likely Not Spam is delivered normally.

How is spam marked?

Possible Spam is marked in two ways:

(a) the word SPAM is inserted into the Subject line of an email, as {SPAM} or :::SPAM:::, or

(b) a warning phrase is inserted in the body of the email about a possibly suspicious link/URL.

Why does The WELL put spam in the Junk folder instead of deleting it?

A great deal of spam is deleted before it arrives in a customer’s email account. Likely and potential spam is put in the Junk folder as a way to separate it from clearly legitimate email. However, some legitimate mail may be tagged as spam, and some spam is likely to slide through untagged because it is written to look more like regular email. We recommend regular inspection of the Junk folder before you delete its contents.

I forward my WELL mail elsewhere. Will spam be removed first?

Yes, most spam will be removed before your Well mail is forwarded.

Can I get a new WELL email address?

If you’d like to change or add another WELL email address, you can either:

• Sign up for an ExtraMail account as an add-on to your current account by logging into the Billing Info Center <bic.well.com>, and selecting the Email tab. Extramail accounts are email-only and do not have access to conferencing.
• Sign up for a new WELL account. If you wish to continue access to your old email, contact The WELL’s Helpdesk for advice before you create the new account.