Symantec Messaging and Web Security published a May report revealing spam level in the past month. The junk letters made up 80% of all incoming mail, which proves experts right as regards the global economic recession.

The spam mail contents are of interest. The majority of spam letters - 27% - is ads of general consumer goods, 17% of spam conatins different Internet services propositions. 16% of spam is of financial character and potential scam mail totals 12%. 10% of spam is made up of pharmacy goods, and only 5% of undesired mail contain adult inforamtion.

The most spam-active region proved to be the United States (28%). The second largest spamming country is Russia (7%). Italy seems to have the lowest number of spammers (2% only).

Symantec analysts state that global economic recession redounds to spammers' advantage. The latter use people's desire to solve their increasing financial problems to gain access to personal data. Natural calamities also play into their hands, as people suffering from a disaster would trust those who seem to help them.

Agitation around the final Championship League match was also used by spammers to fish out personal inforamtion. Desgised as tourist agents, spammers offered a "unique opportunity" to "acquire the tickets cheap", and gained a lot of personal e-mails, names and other data.

Among favorite spammers' tricks are false checks or coupons and remote home business opportunity offers.