Email Weaknesses and Compromises (Score 3, Interesting)

This is my own experience. I once got a library card, and gave my email address. Within a month I started receiving a huge amount of spam using my name, physical address, and/or email. I moved (for other reasons ^_^), and got a new library card. I set up an email address specifically for using as my library email. Same thing happened. In a few years I moved again, new card, new spam. I got a ticket. I gave my email address to the municipal court. Within a month, more spam. I worked for the state for a while. I set up an account specifically for that and had no mail until I had given the state the email address, and then I started getting spam. So, my thinking is, it is the government or at least my state government that has issues with security.