Lots of spam get past my Gmail spam filter, but sometimes I’m just too lazy to tick the checkbox and click the report spam button. I just realized how important this feature is, as this helps Google refine Gmail’s spam filtering technology.

How can you help in the fight? Your most powerful tool is the “Report Spam” button. Use it early and often. That isn’t just there to get the spammy message into the spam folder. It sends valuable information back to the spam team that helps us flag messages and senders so we can keep future messages out of your and millions of other inboxes.

Spammy messages don’t only come in the guise of 419 scams and fake male enlargement pills (among others). Today it’s becoming more serious, with the financial markets now being the victim. For instance, pump and dump schemes basically involve inflating stock prices by speculation, so the scammers can sell for a hefty profit once the demand artificially raises the stock prices. Organized crime groups use email is a popular method of promoting stocks. This is called stock spam.

So clicking that report spam will not only help keep your inbox clean now, but it will also potentially keep your inbox cleaner in the future. And you help fight crime too!