Hundreds of spam email "Mail delivery returned" in Plusnet (Thunderbird) inbox 5 August 2022 at 1:33AM edited 5 August 2022 at 2:06AM in Techie Stuff 6 replies 102 views

Crimson60

I am receiving hundreds of spam mail (to me in my Plusnet email address inbox) in Thunderbird.  As fast as I delete them more and more arrive - literally hundreds of them:

 This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.      

Delivery to the following recipients failed permanently:

   * [email protected]

I have put xxx in the name but the emails allegedely come from more than one btinternet.com email address.I have not sent these emails, they are not in my sent box yet they are being returned to me as failed deliveries. 

Windows Defender says no threats and I'm beside myself trying to stop these emails.  I can't keep up with the number to constantly delete them. 

Even as I type just now more and more of these emails constantly arrive in my Plusnet email inbox. I am not exaggerating - I have lost count but hundreds of them.

Any help gratefully appreciated.

glennevis

Someone has spoofed your email address i.e. pretending to be you to send out spam emails. Nothing to worry about.
Just create a filter or Rule in Thunderbird to automatically delete these emails.

Crimson60

Thanks very much glennevis - really glad it is nothing to worry about. 

I'll read up (Google) how to create a filter or Rule in Thunderbird to automatically delete these emails and get to work on it.

Crimson60

I think I have followed the instructions in Thunderbird successfully,.

For now the masses of these junk emails have 'gone' and no more are pouring in.  I am thankful for that.  I'll keep a check on it.  Thanks very much for your help in replying, glennevis.

Although nothing to worry about, I wonder if  'someone' has deliberately selected me (my email address) to do this or maybe it has  just been just 'random?

droopsnoot

Crimson60 said:

Although nothing to worry about, I wonder if  'someone' has deliberately selected me (my email address) to do this or maybe it has  just been just 'random?

Almost certainly random. I used to get this in work from time to time. I seem to recall we put the delete rule in the mail provider - the ISP - rather than in the mail client on the PC, because at the time bandwidth was more precious than it is now, and it was causing some difficulty having to download the mails. The ISP had similar rules that can be added in the mail control panel, so they'd just get deleted at source.

Crimson60

Thanks droopsnoot.  I'm glad to hear that it is likely to be random.

I contacted Plusnet and they gave very helpful information.  I have run Superantispyware and no threats were found - same as on Windows Defender.

Plusnet do not offer 'Client' email support but I was given an email by them to report the abuse to them.

I still had problems with the deluge of the same spam emails on my 'phone. Nothing seemed to work and I uninstalled the email account from Gmail on my 'phone then reinstalled it.  So far it seems to be back to normal.

It has taken hours to sort it but helped by you on this forum and Plusnet Technical Support

Thank you very much, glennevis and droopsnoot.

Crimson60

The problem with spam emails seems to have calmed down for now and, at present, it seems to be O.K. 

I decided to delete my  Plusnet email account in the gmail app on my tablet and 'phone and, now, the server settings (on Plusnet) don't work. 

When I tried to set it up (using  the same server settings as before) I now have what I think is the Postmaster's box with nothing but Plusnet emails about bills etc. and none of m personal emails - so I have deleted it again.

The gentleman this afternoon tried but couldn't help me to sort the email problem with my Plusnet emails coming through on the Gmail app.   Thunderbird email is letting me access my Plusnet emails.

It's something to do with my user name not being right - but I only use one Plusnet username so I really am at a loss but it seems to, now, be the Postmaster's one and not my own one.

I telephoned Plusnet this morning and it seems to be a problem related to my username right enough.  Someone will get back to me from Plusnet's Email Team.

For now I have access to my Plusnet emails on my laptop (Thunderbird) but have deleted the 'Postmaster' ones on my Tablet and Mobile 'Phone.

If anyone here, has had a similar problem, or knows about it, I'll be pleased to hear how it was resolved.

Thank you.