Finding Solution to Secret World of Spam

WASHINGTON, May 2 — There probably isn't a "Wendy" behind the e-mail offering a way to "lose 30 pounds in 30 days." And it seems unlikely that the real vendor of the "Iraqi most-wanted playing cards" is really named "Doc Holiday."

Most unwanted bulk e-mail, or spam, is sent under forged names and addresses, making it hard to track down the real senders. At a three-day forum that just ended here on spam, sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission, there was a consensus that spam was increasing rapidly this year. But there was little certainty about who was behind it.