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Internet users purchasing goods from spam

New figures from internet security experts have revealed that 29 per cent of people that spend time online have bought goods from spam emails.

Despite the risks involved, more than a quarter of internet users admit to purchasing items marketed through spam emails.

The study, carried out by Marshal, showed that sexual enhancement pills were the most common purchase followed by software and adult material.

Luxury goods such as watches, accessories and clothes were also popular among those buying from spam.

"The poll highlights an inconvenient truth," said Marshal vice president of products, Bradley Anstis.

"Many of us often question ourselves, why is there so much spam? The answer is enough people are purchasing products from spam to make it a worthwhile and profitable endeavour for spammers."

He added that an estimated 150 billion spam messages circulate every day which "regularly account for more than 85 per cent of all emails".

Last month, the Secure Computing Internet Threats report claimed that the US sends more than twice as much spam as the next largest contributor, Russia.

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