e-mail address problem

[Deleted User]

Hi

I'm hoping someone might know what on earth could be happening with my e-mail account.


I am receiving several e-mails a day where the sender's e-mail address is the same as my e-mail address:eek:. It is correct in every detail and as I certainly haven't sent these e-mails to myself I'm wondering how anyone else can be using my e-mail address and how I can stop it happening. I am the only person with access to this computer at this address and on this BT account so it isn't anyone living here doing it.


Obviously, if they come to me I can just delete them, but I'm worried that emails supposedly from me (on goodness knows what subjects) are being sent to other people.


I have all the McAfee security supplied by BT's NetProtectPlus as part of my internet package and keep updates current. The last scan done an hour ago showed nothing untoward in my system.

Any advice very welcome. Thanks for your time:beer:

cookie365

It's just regular spam.

Nothing to worry about.

Nothing you can do about it, other than mark them as spam in your email application.

[Deleted User]

cookie365 wrote: »

It's just regular spam.

Nothing to worry about.

Nothing you can do about it, other than mark them as spam in your email application.

That's a relief! Thank you:beer:

But how are they using my e-mail address as their sender address?

esuhl

carbootcrazy wrote: »

But how are they using my e-mail address as their sender address?

The email specification contains no validation of the sender address. Just like you can write any sender's address on the back of an envelope, you can use any email address in the sender field of an email.

I think spammers use that method to try to get through spam filters.

marty2be2000

You can use anything as the sender address by configuring the mail client with a different reply to address.

Or as is the case of most spam, simply send the smtp code RCPT TO: with any email address you like to the SMTP server.

macman

I'd start by getting rid of McCrappy and installing a decent AV program. If you are paying extra for NetProtectPlus then it's just throwing money away. You can buy McAfee outright (if you must) much cheaper, but there are plenty of decent free AV's available.
If you are using webmail and the emails in question are in your Sent folder, then your account has been hacked, so you need to change your password and run a decent anti-malware program such as Malwarebytes. If not, then it's just address spoofing as explained above.

Double_V

macman wrote: »

I'd start by getting rid of McCrappy and installing a decent AV program. If you are paying extra for NetProtectPlus then it's just throwing money away. You can buy McAfee outright (if you must) much cheaper, but there are plenty of decent free AV's available.
If you are using webmail and the emails in question are in your Sent folder, then your account has been hacked, so you need to change your password and run a decent anti-malware program such as Malwarebytes. If not, then it's just address spoofing as explained above.

What are some free good anti-viruses ?
I don't want to make my pc heavy.

RumRat

Bitdefender free edition.....Very light, just works in the background few if any popups.

AndyPix

carbootcrazy wrote: »

i have all the mcafee security supplied by btt's netprotectplus as part of my internet package and keep updates current.

carbootcrazy wrote: »

i don't want to make my pc heavy.

lol ......

AndyPix

OP

Someone that has your email address in their contacts list, has the Netsky virus.

Nothing you can do about it .. Just delete and ignore and it will stop in time

[Deleted User]

AndyPix wrote: »

lol ......

Sorry, I don't 'get' the joke.