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A common question comes up often when people write to me. While there are variations, they are all asking the same thing. That is why is your email strange looking. First, this questions comes towards those that write to my private email, and not the one that is on my web pages. The one on my pages is frank@pilone.name. However, when I write to someone, I give them a unique email address that looks a little like their email address in most cases. I am going to address this on this page to provide clarification.

First, my public email address has been a victim of SPAM regularly. I tend to know a few of the trends by the ones that get through. First, I have special filters I set up based on what I found to always seem to bypass the server's SPAM filters. This is the first line of defense and the filters can be adjusted as necessary. The next line of defense is the server's Anti-SPAM filters which is set to high. I do receive a notice on what is caught, and usually look over it. The next line of defense is the email client's SPAM filters. It is adaptive, and I can teach it if it makes a mistake.

Now, with all of this, it is easy to perceive that good email would sometimes become a casualty in all of this assault on SPAM. The solution is to have a way to completely bypass all of this. However, to give everyone the same email address would only make a loosing battle. It is like leaving the door of your home wide open, and have a sign saying "Criminals, do not enter". So, the strange email addresses are like unique keys into my inbox. When I first write to you, or if I know your email address ahead of time, you would see an address that would appear to have components of your email address in it. Keep in mind, I do not have access to your account. However, everyone gets an email address that is for them only. The email address you would receive is only given to you. All of these email addresses goes to just one place, a separate email account that has noting to do with frank@pilone.name.

Let me clarify this. Let's assume that three different people wish to write me. Now all of these email addresses I am noting are email addresses that mine but I never use them since I am given the address for what ever service I use. Okay, not frankpgh15213@hotmail.com, frankp1973@yahoo.com, frankpgh15213@aol.com all wish to write me. So, I give the person with the hotmail address hotmail+frankpgh15213@fspws.com. As you can see, the address I gave him has nothing to do with Hotmail. The word hotmail is in the user ID. Now, I would give frankpgh15213@yahoo.com the email address of yahoo+frankp1973@fspws.com. Again, you see the domain the email is going to is fspws.com. Now for frankpgh15213@aol.com, I would give him aol+frankpgh15213@fspws.com. As you can see, each of these people have different email addresses they would write to me to. Since I have ownership of fspws.com, I control all of the email addresses. No one else is given an fspws.com address.

Now, a week goes by since these three people received my first email with these unique email addresses. Now, frankp1973@yahoo.com is a terrible person, and wants me to help him get his millions of dollars out of some international bank. You know, only I - the US sucker could help him, and he trusts me since he known me all of the time of 1 week. Well, I now kill yahoo+frankp1973@fspws.com, and any time he writes me again would automatically bounce. The other two people can still write me since they do not have this address. This Scam artist would have to find another sucker.

Now a month later, I get several of emails on how my private part can be as big of a horse. I also can get some several discounts on Viagra. I know I didn't ask for this trash. So, instead of me accepting that I would be a continuous victim of SPAM, I look at who it is written to, not from. Oh no I see it is written to hotmail+frankpgh15213@fspws.com. Well, he was a nice guy, but either a complete idiot, inconsiderate in giving away my email address, or wish to make a quick buck by selling my email address. So, I kill this address. Since frankpgh15213@yahoo.com already was severed, he is already affected. Now, the hotmail user who wished to give me some hot tasty SPAM now got a cold dead email address. At least I still have my AOL friend.

Speaking of my imaginary AOL friend, he is doing good. He only writes me once or so a month, but it is okay. I am sure he is busy. Hey, I would rather have one good email per month, than thousands of SPAM, and several requests for my money. It's never the quantity, but the quality that counts. I am now sure that you are wondering if I trust you with my real email address. Well, if I thought you would be one of those undesirables, I would not have written you in the first. Please note, it takes effort to set up an address just for one person. Think of it this way, if nothing else, if I only have one person to write to, it could be you. And would you like it if I am constantly asking you to update your address book? I am sure that you won't. This way, you would never have to.