Email account hacked

custardcream1000

Hi everyone,

I have just checked my emails and I have about 20 messages from 3-4am this morning stating that emails could not be delivered, out of office replies, and lots of love it magazine messages. I didn't send messages to any of these people last night.

None of the messages that have been 'sent' are showing in the sent message folder - is there a reason why?

I have changed my password and sent a message to all my personal contacts warning them, but is there anything else I need to do?

Thank you
Custardcream

mclarkie

Have you notified you email provider?, they would be able to confirm if you've been hacked.

custardcream1000

Thanks mclarkie, I will do that now.

mjm3346

The "Techie Stuff" section may be able to offer further advice


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=29

softpad

change your password

Moneymadmark

Having a guess at why nothing could be showing in your "sent" folder is that the hacker has deleted them so that you would not know that they had been sent. If it is a Hotmail account, you can recover recently deleted messages by following the instructions on the "deleted message" folder. I believe it just adds all recently deleted messages back into the "deleted message" folder. Then maybe foward them on to Hotmail admin saying what has happened. I think only Hotmail users can do this though.

jeddentad

This doesn't necessarily mean your email account has been compromised. Spam bots often send spam with 'fake' sender email addresses. It's possible your email address was used in this way.

thingamaBob

Check your "On Holiday/Out of Office" type settings.
When this happened to me once. I found my "On Holiday" settings had been set to automatically reply to all incoming messages with a spam message for advertising electrical goods. I only spotted this because some of the incoming messages came from "no reply" addresses so when they got the spam replies they were immediately bounced back as undelivered.

Change your password and run your antivirus.

custardcream1000

Thank you for the advice everyone, it has been really helpful.

I am assuming it has been hacked as the 'undelivered mail return to sender' messages I have received show a link (I assume it's a virus) being sent to my old contacts, rather than random email addresses.

I have done most of the things that were recommended on here; the settings seem to be normal and the antivirus check came back ok, so I am hoping my email address is secure again