I get emails addressed to someone else?

SallyD · 24 July 2005 at 9:23AM

Since I changed from dial up to Broadband I am getting a lot of emails addressed to my christian name but different surname. They all want me to apply for a dipoloma or viagra! I put them in junk mail and add them to junkmail list.....are these SPAM emails? I would be grateful if someone could explain about these type of emails in simple terms as I am not very computer literate, but slowly improving.

Thanks to everyone taking the trouble to read this.

scoot1on1 · 24 July 2005 at 9:33AM

Hi Sally
Yes these are spam emails, if you are unsure where an email comes from dont open it or click on any links in that email, as this will then let the original poster of the email know that your email is a valid email address and you will get 10 times the amount of junk you are getting at the moment. Also opening these emails can cause viruses and trojans on your computer.

Which email client are you using ie Yahoo, hotmail etc as these have an inbuilt spam filter which keeps most of these emails separate

Jon

Joe_Bloggs · 24 July 2005 at 9:41AM

Yes those emails are spam. I get twenty a day at work with a public email address. They claim to have a spam filter but about 10% get through the net by using some foorrrmm of typographical error that changes the way VVViiiaaagggrrraaa looks. These messages are sent automatically by computers in the hope that a few people actually reply. Never reply to them and delete before opening them if possible.
Some ISPs are better than others at filtering this spam activity.
J_B.

996ducati · 24 July 2005 at 9:46AM

As mentioned definately DONT click on any links within the e-mail and that includes the unsubscribe link.

If you are using Outlook Express you could try blocking the sender & creating some rules to try & filter out the Spam mail but the best advice is dont give your e-mail address to anyone or any website that you dont know/trust.

Look in Outlook Express/help/help contents/index/blocking messages

SallyD · 24 July 2005 at 10:05AM

oooophs I have been opening them, send to "add to junk email list" and then delete the message. I have only had one with an "unsubscribe" and of course, I unsubscribed.

So, from now on, I will not open them at all and I will check out "Outlook Express/help/helpcontents/index/blocking messages" as I getting more confident each day.

This has only been a problem since I changed from Telewst Dial-up to their Broadband.

Thank you for your replies, much appreciated.

scoot1on1 · 24 July 2005 at 10:21AM

Sally just to be on the safe side I would run a virus scan, just on the off chance you have clicked on a link etc or opened an attachment

elvis_bloggs · 24 July 2005 at 10:35AM

I get e-mails addressed to other people, sometimes with just one address on them and sometimes with a whole bunch of addresses on them...it is just spam so I just delete right away.

aminchom · 24 July 2005 at 10:39AM

I use a piece of software called mailwasher - it is free to use and lets you view the headers of e-mails before you download them to your pc. It also has a blacklisting system (based on a couple of web based databases of known spammers). Nothing is deleted until you say so, but it stops stuff ever reaching your PC.

Available at http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,20000,00.asp

mike_paterson · 24 July 2005 at 11:01AM

SallyD wrote:

I have only had one with an "unsubscribe" and of course, I unsubscribed.

Never ever unsubscribe from an unsolicited email. If you do they then know that your email address is valid and will use it and add also probably sell it to others.
As said by others, most isps should provide or offer spam protection.

SallyD · 24 July 2005 at 11:55AM

Have just run the Virus Scan and all seems well. I have taken on board all the good advice you have given me.

Thanks again

I get emails addressed to someone else?

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