My own email address sending spam?

EssexGirl

I just logged into my Yahoo account and had a quick peek in the bulk mail folder just in case something inportant had landed in there and I saw an email from myself :eek:
I was addressed to my Yahoo email from my Yahoo email, but it was actually from one of those scammer " we have £20 million for you because you have same same name as the deceased, but we can't tell you who they are, just tell us all of your personal details...." yada yada.

Anyone know how this happens? Has my account been hacked into? I don't want loads of carpy emails back for people complaining! I have changed my password as a just in case.

superscaper

Anybody can put anything they want in their "from" field in an email. If I knew what your address was I could send out emails which appeared to be from you. I wouldn't worry about, it's just spam. Delete and forget. There's no indication your account was hijacked at all.

superscaper

EssexGirl wrote: »

I don't want loads of carpy emails back for people complaining!

This can happen anyway, as per my above explanation that you don't need your account to be hijacked for spammers to spoof your email address.

EssexGirl

superscaper wrote: »

Anybody can put anything they want in their "from" field in an email. If I knew what your address was I could send out emails which appeared to be from you. I wouldn't worry about, it's just spam. Delete and forget. There's no indication your account was hijacked at all.

I didn't know that! Panic over. Many thanks.