Suspicisous e-mails from the 'unknown'

[milkabum]

Recently I have been recieving suspicious junk mail from people I have never heard of. My first was a message was from a lawyer asking me if I wanted to invest in millions of dollars. I sent a polite e-mail back saying that I believed he had the wrong e-mail. A couple of days later, two more come. I just leave them alone and delete this time. But oh no, and E-BAY SUSPENSION? I mean, I don't even use e-Bay! I'm 12 for the love of french toast! So again, I delete and move along. Today guess what I find? Another e-Bay suspension. So here I am wondering if any other DIS'er has been getting suspicious e-mails from the black hole.
Emily

 

[Squirlz]

It's called "spam" and everyone that uses e-mail gets it. Just an unfortunate fact of life. Don't reply to it because then they know they have a "live" address and you'll get more!

 

[FlowersChild]

I get these kind of emails also. I got them long before I joined the Disboards. I am glad that you don't open them anymore. You are wise to delete these emails. Some of these emails might have a virus in them that could damage your computer. The best thing to do is just delete these emails as soon as you get them and never open them. Also if you can report these emails.

 

[Chuck S]

My guess is that you have been to a website that has placed a tracking cookie or adware onto your computer. Do you have an adware removal program? Ad-Aware works well, and catches things that my Norton Virus program misses.

 

[Shugardrawers]

Whatever you do, don't reply to those or open any attachments they may have!!! Replying just tells them they have an active address and you'll get millions more! Attachments can carry viruses and worms. If you don't know the person who sent it, just delete it.

I got one today that was a real head scratcher. It was just one of those "AOL will send you .05 for every person you forward this to" chain letters but the really strange thing was that it came from someone I've never heard of. I didn't recognize a single person in the multiple recipients either. No attachments, no click heres, just really wierd.

 

[milkabum]

One had an attachment so I immediatley deleted it with the check box. Why do people send these, and how do they know my e-mail address?

 

[luvdzne]

Everyday in my junk mail box I get at least 3 or 4 emails all containing the same email. They always come with a different email address and subject like good day, over the top. Stuff to make it impossible to filter completely out. Now when I see my junk folder has mail I just empty it without looking.

I agree that you should get a anti-spy ware if you don't always have one and run it several times a day if you can. I am amazed at all it catches. I actually have 2 and one always catches something that the other didn't.

 

[CathrynRose]

Recently I have been recieving suspicious junk mail from people I have never heard of. My first was a message was from a lawyer asking me if I wanted to invest in millions of dollars. I sent a polite e-mail back saying that I believed he had the wrong e-mail. A couple of days later, two more come. I just leave them alone and delete this time. But oh no, and E-BAY SUSPENSION? I mean, I don't even use e-Bay! I'm 12 for the love of french toast! So again, I delete and move along. Today guess what I find? Another e-Bay suspension. So here I am wondering if any other DIS'er has been getting suspicious e-mails from the black hole.
Emily

Biggest mistake you made? Replying.

DO NOT REPLY - ever, never, ever.

 

[Hercules10]

Even at 12 I'm surprised you're not getting adult-oriented spam email. They're getting worse by the day.

 

[kidshop]

Can you ask your parents for help in deleting spyware and managing your email? I am surprised they haven't talked to you about spam and replying to emails and never to give out personal info etc. There are bad people out there and many adults fall for email scams (b/c they are so good). A 12 y/o is virtually defenseless against phishers out on the web w/o some guidance.

 

[janey99]

Hmmm - I for one am interested by your post. Coinciding perfectly with my registration on DIS, I have started getting (about 2 a day) emails that appear to be from "real people," although they are people I don't know, and when I open them they are a pitch for me to buy a certain stock.

I have lots of filters and protectors on my computer and these are the ONLY spam I get. Aside from joining the DIS, the only different thing I have done in terms of sites visited is ONCE early on in my time on the DIS, I went to the creditboards site because I was curious as to what it is.

Any explanations or thoughts?

Jane

 

[milkabum]

We have to update our norton antivirus, and I'll ask my parents about it.

 

[Chuck S]

Hmmm - I for one am interested by your post. Coinciding perfectly with my registration on DIS, I have started getting (about 2 a day) emails that appear to be from "real people," although they are people I don't know, and when I open them they are a pitch for me to buy a certain stock.

I have lots of filters and protectors on my computer and these are the ONLY spam I get. Aside from joining the DIS, the only different thing I have done in terms of sites visited is ONCE early on in my time on the DIS, I went to the creditboards site because I was curious as to what it is.

Any explanations or thoughts?

Jane

I've never had spam come as a result of the DIS, my guess is that it was from the credit board site...sometimes adware can even hide in photos on innocent sites unknown to the webmaster. It is even possible a spambot invaded a site where you have your email address registered and culled it from there.

 

[katerkat]

You mean I didn't really win the British National Lottery and my husband doesn't have a Nigerian uncle?

 

[Race the Reaper]

You mean I didn't really win the British National Lottery and my husband doesn't have a Nigerian uncle?

I know what you mean! I seem to have more uncles overseas than I do here!

 

[ChrisFL]

welcome to the internet, yes you received spam, there are no chain letters to win a million dollars, those people don't know you and the email is found by finding them posted somewhere OR by just programs that randomly generate email addresses AFAIK.

As others have said, NEVER reply to them and unless you know the person, or you can tell it's really specific to you, don't even open them...just delete them.