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Ugh, spam being sent with my email address

by blue_soda025
9 replies
I was looking in my spam folder today and just realized that some idiot(s) somehow got ahold of my email address (and I never give this one out to ANYone or list it anywhere so I have no idea how they got it) and is sending IM-related spam with it. I'm guessing there's not much I can do in this case? The only thing I'm worried about is my account getting banned from all this spam coming from it. :confused:
#address #email #spam #ugh
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    You should change your password then contact your server and make sure your email wasn't hacked. There's a good possibility it's being phished and not hacked, in which case your server will be helpless to aid you but will not hold you responsible for the phishing, either. As long as servers know you are working to prevent spam in your name, they are pretty nice about helping you or explaining things.

    Coincidentally, I was just noticing a bizarre drop in the spam I've been getting. Both my inbox and spam folder were filling up with it - much of it the "returned mail" variety. Suddenly it is gone. I've only gotten a couple of spam messages a day for the last week or so. It's nice. I hope whatever happened isn't a temporary fix.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
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  • Profile picture of the author blue_soda025
    Good point. I will definitely try contacting them then. Actually, I didn't realize I could check the recent account activity so I did and there was definitely suspicious activity. Looks like someone from the US had been logging into my account at EXACT 1 hour intervals using the POP3 server which is super shady. So I suspect that perhaps it was hacked. Either way I signed out all sessions and changed my password.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Blue - you need to contact your server right away. Don't put it off. That is serious - also get into your Cpanel and check and make sure you have your FTP set to authorized only and then change that password and then your Cpanel password. Anywhere you can change usernames, do that too. And Make them STRONG.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author blue_soda025
    I have been trying to look up how to contact Google (since I use gmail) about suspicious activity, but everything that comes up just points to steps to changing my password and security question. I wonder if anyone else has experience with contacting Google about gmail matters? I seriously can't find a contact for this.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Jordan
    Go to your gmail account and click DETAILS on the lower right-hand corner. An "activity on this account" will show up. Click "Learn More". This will lead you to another page. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "contacting us".
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  • Profile picture of the author Rich Struck
    They are probably just spoofing your email address, that is why it is all bouncing back to you. This has happened to me 2 or 3 times. After a day or two they generally move on. This is really quite common.
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  • Profile picture of the author DIABL0
    More than likely they have a program that sets the from address as the address they are sending to. Unless you are getting a bunch of bounces or complaints I wouldn't worry about it. It's just a trick to make you open the email. Totally non can-spam compliant and stupid to do such. Probably came from outside US or an infected computer, because no legit mailer would do such!

    Even if you are getting bounces and complaints, any admin will be able to tell that the mail didn't originate from you. so while it may be annoying, your really not at any risk.
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    • Profile picture of the author MrRSmith
      Yeah, I've seen the same thing on an AOL account of mine. And it just has 1 line of text about clicking on some shortened url. Guess I should run a virus check again and change the password. Thanks for the tips.
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