IMPORTANT! Have you received an email to your forum username?

ormus

theres no reason why the spammers cannot just trawl for the usernames and then append them with all the common email provider names.
ie
ormus at yahoo, google, hotmail etc etc...

shoe*gal_2

I've had it this afternoon. MSE username and the email address I use for this site. I've also had a load of penis ones which is funny because I haven't got a penis. I'd like to try having a wee standing up though. Anyway the penis ones are from when I did a comp on Heart FM as my son gets the same ones after he entered the comp too. Not impressed with anyone who sells my details to penis people.

KiKi

ormus wrote: »

theres no reason why the spammers cannot just trawl for the usernames and then append them with all the common email provider names.
ie
ormus at yahoo, google, hotmail etc etc...

Understood. But you wouldn't expect them to send an email saying "Dear Ormus", and sent to your email address which is John Smith @ hotmail com.

It's the fact that usernames and email addresses have been linked which is concerning!

Thanks for the updates, MSE team.

KiKi

Jesthar

Also got one of these. I can catagiorcally state it's nothing to do with the weekly Money Tips e-mail list. Mine goes to a different e-mail address to the one I use for the forum, and the spam came to the forum account.

It did use my forum name correctly, which is telling as it's different from the forum name.

A thought - is it possible that it's something to do with an MSE promotion with an external agenct which required the e-mail address for verification? Shot in the dark I know...

duchy

Indded but many like me have an email address that has no connection to my user name here -and like me got one too

PhylPho

vetfred wrote: »

Unless Derren Brown owns 'Money Expert', then I find it hard to believe they have simply managed to guess our email addresses for our MSE usernames.
>
Finally, it would be very good to know just how our emails have been obtained by 'Money Expert' especially since some will use unique usernames or email addresses between the various sites they are registered with.

Er, I think when there's some proof that owners / operators of the MoneyExpert website are responsible for what's gone on, that'll be the time to name and shame.

As things stand, premature judgment plays straight into the hands of anyone seeking to create mischief for one financial advice website at the expense of scaring the users of another financial advice website.

Although it's difficult to keep track of information on a fast-posting thread like this one, the post by BernieB at #24 contains the only facts worth going on -- so far. (The spoofed IP address is of some unsuspecting book store in, er, Oslo. . .)

meher

PhylPho wrote: »

Thanks meher, I'm not doubting your experience. But in answer to your question though, first thing I'd be asking is, why is Martin seeking to dilute the value of his website as a major online reference resource?

excellent question and that's precisely why I thought this individual and his mission was creepy from start and had the good sense not to join - why don't people who start out such ventures ask this question themselves; as if this site need crutches

PhylPho wrote: »

Without a ready answer to one or both of those questions, I'd keep well clear.

sure but under normal circumstances I'm one of them who acts first and asks later

anyway this has been a nagging thought in my mind for the past couple of weeks, probably one that bears no relation to this specific episode but I wouldn't discount the possibility that there are many sources to get our usernames and ids - I always like to believe this site is very closely guarded and looked after by webby but I don't trust anyone who takes advantage of it

yonk

I got the email.

pinknico

Just received this email just now. Only use this username on this site.

shoe*gal_2

There's no guesswork involved - my email address has my real name with no shoes in sight. Ive had the guess ones before but this is different.

I don't thinks it's a spam bot either. I'm shoe*gal on here and HUKD but have different passwords. Everything else I use is under a different name. Facebook has my real name. How can something guess my real name and email address from a post on here?