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canetoad

(18,563 posts)
9. Another possibility
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 08:48 PM
Apr 2020

Is that someone, who has your email addy in their address book has a mailer worm.

How these things work is they install themselves through an infected attachement, setting up their own SMTP engine. Then they trawl the infected computer for email addresses and wham! Away they go.

I was once able to identify an worm on an acquaintances computer; this particular worm searched for email address and also copied random chunks of text from the user's files and pasted them in the body of the emails it sent. Luckily I recognised some of the text and from whom it was copied.

If this is the case, just keep deleting them and hope that the infected computer's owner eventually figures it out.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Email is trivially forged CloudWatcher Apr 2020 #1
What is the purpose? I don't understand why they would do this if no $$s were involved. I hope!!! Frustratedlady Apr 2020 #5
Spam filters CloudWatcher Apr 2020 #13
Yes, I get those calls every day. Frustratedlady Apr 2020 #15
National Do Not Call Registry CloudWatcher Apr 2020 #17
That works for a short time, then we're back to calls again. Frustratedlady Apr 2020 #19
You could have picked up canetoad Apr 2020 #2
Yes, I have run a malware scan with nothing found. Frustratedlady Apr 2020 #6
Another possibility canetoad Apr 2020 #9
Hmmm! This is the first time I've run into this problem. Frustratedlady Apr 2020 #10
Check the 'To' address CloudWatcher Apr 2020 #14
No, they are using my address. Frustratedlady Apr 2020 #16
The original To field CloudWatcher Apr 2020 #18
Yes. The example I posted was... Frustratedlady Apr 2020 #20
Perhaps someone has spoofed your email address as origination of their spam operation. cayugafalls Apr 2020 #3
I haven't opened any until tonight when curiosity killed the cat. Frustratedlady Apr 2020 #7
See if changing your password to your email account helps. PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2020 #4
I will do so. Thanks! Frustratedlady Apr 2020 #8
It's a classic trick. If you respond in any way, they know a live human is on the other end. Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2020 #11
I have not responded to any of them, nor have I opened any except a couple Daemons. Frustratedlady Apr 2020 #12
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