E-mail spam HELP!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
E-mail spam HELP!!!
8
Sun, 07-25-2004 - 7:18pm
Ever since I got my computer from the repair shop and re-installed my e-mail addresses I have been getting at least 20 e-mails from diplomas to enlargements of any or all body parts. The funny thing is that my dh's, ds's and dd's e-mail is getting none!!! Why am I getting targeted? My e-mail address in the to line is never even my e-mail address. Its always some version that is close but not right on, maybe a few letters off or a "sounds like" type of address. So technically they should not even get to me, should they? I have Norton security, firewall and virus protection and it does identify them as spam when they come through but why am I the only one who is getting them? Can anyone help?

Laurie

Avatar for krsecond3
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sun, 07-25-2004 - 8:03pm
Can't help but want you to know you are not the only one. If I get two emails a day from family or friends, I get 60 that are junk and some downright pornographic but my husband doesn't. My main mailbox is Yahoo and if anything comes into my inbox that I don't want to look at I report it as spam without opening it. I have even gotten emails from iVillage board members but if I don't recognize them I delete them.

I think those with just part of your name or even nothing to do with your name are just good guesses and they hope you will open them so they can get your real name--don't.

Kathey

Kathey
Avatar for cl_emty_nstr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 07-25-2004 - 11:25pm

It was the enlarging body parts that I didn't have that got me.....lol


My ISP has a filter in place and that can catch sometimes over 100 pieces of junk a day.


You can set up some rules in Outlook Express.... but just as those emails get to your without your complete address they will get around the rules too...


If Norton is identifying them as spam you can set up a folder if Norton don't have one already and just delete it every day.


There is one piece of software that I tried when it was still in beta that was kind of like a co-op. All the members sent in spam and they compiled a huge list and the people using their software would not get any of that mail. I tried it before my ISP got the filter and I could get sometimes 200 pieces a day.......I installed that software and it went to maybe about 8 a week.


It is not free, http://www.cloudmark.com/products/spamnet/


 


Have a nice day !.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 9:00pm
just a few words--NORTON ANTI-SPAM! Also contains pop up blocker-works very well
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 3:10am

My husband used to have the same problem when we were with AOL; he got tons of "enlargement" email, even though he hadn't visited any sites like this or anything (he doesn't really go online at all, he only had the email addy set up for sending online resumes).

Karen
Mom to Kristen (17) Chloe (7) & Connor (6)

Avatar for cl_emty_nstr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 10:20am

I have a sister who went further in school than I did so you would thing she would know better. When she complained to me about all the spam I told her to look at what was in one of the forwards that she gets. All those addresses are out there for everyone to see. But she keeps sending forwards and I keep deleting them.


Email is like sending a post card if you don't want people reading it then you shouldn't put it in an email.


I have gotten forwards that have had at least 100 addresses in them and if I forwarded it you could add a few hundred more.....Stop sending forwards. And like I told my sister, something that is funny, or heartwarming to us might be offensive to others so don't send the minister that one joke it just isn't right.......lol.......Janet


 


Have a nice day !.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 1:10pm

No doubt!

Karen
Mom to Kristen (17) Chloe (7) & Connor (6)

Avatar for cl_emty_nstr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 5:20pm
When I was younger and would get a letter from my aunt I would get excited and when I opened it would be a

 


Have a nice day !.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2000
Fri, 07-30-2004 - 4:59pm
Oh, you can start getting porn pretty innocently. Lots of guys take a peek and that will definitely get it started, but there are other ways. All you really have to do is open up a web site that might have even the most remote HINT of romance or love and there you go, porn spam. My husband admits he takes a peek occasionally and I don't really care about that, BUT that clearly was bringing some of it into MY mailbox - I rarely see much of it anymore, but when I get the really awful, awful stuff, it's a safe bet he's been toying with those sites again. But all I have to do is open up a lingerie site, or one offering a lotion that will soften your skin, and next thing you know it's porn spam about how to increase the size of whatever they're offering to enlarge with some sort of nonsense. You don't have to subscribe to a thing, just visit. If you actually ORDER anything, look out - I opened up Victoria's Secret web site to order something for my niece and the same day I got so many of the unwanted e-mails I couldn't believe it. My DH also has his name on so many car group mailing lists that there's no question some of it arrives in his mailbox whether he asks for it or not.


Edited 7/30/2004 5:08 pm ET ET by joannaran

 


~~joannaran~~