Unfortunately, many spammers are not only sending advertisements to sell products. They are also sending email in the hopes of obtaining personal information. This is why a spam blocker is such an important feature on the Internet. Identity theft is on the rise because too many people have given their personal information to those who will use it to get money, lines of credit, and to hide. People who are victims of identity theft usually gave information away without knowing it. By answering spam that made it passed the spam blocker, a spammer can steal all kinds of other information. By having a credit card number or social security number, spammers can empty bank accounts, steal credit cards, and use a person's name for many years.