Tired of constant offers to refinance your mortgage? Don’t believe you can make millions working from home on your personal computer? Skeptical of that “natural male enhancement” claim? You’re not alone.

If you’re like many computer users, spam is an unwelcome visitor that appears every time you check your e-mail. But unlike those who access the Internet from home, truckers on the road often face minute-by-minute cell phone and air card charges. For those users, spam can be more than a nuisance – it can cost time and money.

The Internet Education Foundation has several tips on its Web site for preventing spam from ever reaching your inbox:

• Use a unique e-mail address to keep spammers from guessing your address. Simple words or phrases are easy to find.
• When shopping or signing up for offers online, use a separate e-mail address for only this purpose. Some online vendors sell or trade e-mail addresses supplied by customers.
• Read the privacy policy for all Web sites to which you submit your personal information. Sites must specifically online if they plan to sell or give away your e-mail address.
• Use filters to help slow the amount of spam reaching your inbox. No filter is foolproof, but many can move most of your junk mail to a folder where it won’t be as bothersome.

For more information on avoiding and eliminating unwanted e-mail, visit the Internet Education Foundation’s Web site at http://spam.getnetwise.org/, or go to the FTC’s site at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/spam/ for more information on your rights in the digital age.