Multiple received e-mails from "myself..."

[FLWBStrainman]

Okay, I know that this is not the most ideal place to post something like this, but this is the only forum that I have an account with, and the Geeksquad people usually tell me I have a virus, no matter what the problem.

Here goes. I have an AOL account, and I've been getting spam e-mails from myself. That is, my screen name is what appears as the "sent from" address. Normally, I would not be concerned, but this is happening once or twice a week. I have probably gotten about 20 of these overall.

Let me point out that I have 2 accounts on AOL, and only 1 is doing this. I have Symantec Endpoint Protection on the computer. I used to have AVG. I had Windows Defender at a time, as well. Neither Symantec or Anti-Malware Bytes has found any problems.

When I was running AVG, it did find a couple of viruses a couple of months ago; an L.O.P virus and something else minor. They were both quarantined by AVG and I haven't had any problems since.

I have searched Google, and what I have found seems to suggest that it has nothing to do with my computer, but that fact that I get the e-mails from "myself" on a regular basis scares me. Can anybody shed some light on the situation?

I'm on vacation right now, and I shouldn't be worrying about it, but I can't help it...

 

[durhamlass]

It sounds like your email address has been harvested by spammers, and they (or someone they've sold it to) are using it in spam emails with fake message headers. It's just pure bad luck that you're receiving them - normally you'll just get the bouces back when they've tried to spam others and failed.

Unfortunately there's not much you can do about it once they've got your email address as they'll sell it on to any organised crime gang who will pay.

 

[4ndylloyd]

When you get the chance check your 'sent' folder to see what has gone out from your account. If the only things sent are e-mails that you have created yourself then your account hasn't been hijacked. I have known of spam e-mails being received which have the 'from' address showing as your own which is a trick used by the spammers to hide the source of the mail. If you never send e-mails to yourself then it is safe for you to 'block' your own address with a spam filter, that should solve the problem.

Now stop worrying about this and enjoy your holiday!!

Andy

 

[johnwhelan]

Okay, I know that this is not the most ideal place to post something like this, but this is the only forum that I have an account with, and the Geeksquad people usually tell me I have a virus, no matter what the problem.

Here goes. I have an AOL account, and I've been getting spam e-mails from myself. That is, my screen name is what appears as the "sent from" address. Normally, I would not be concerned, but this is happening once or twice a week. I have probably gotten about 20 of these overall.

Let me point out that I have 2 accounts on AOL, and only 1 is doing this. I have Symantec Endpoint Protection on the computer. I used to have AVG. I had Windows Defender at a time, as well. Neither Symantec or Anti-Malware Bytes has found any problems.

When I was running AVG, it did find a couple of viruses a couple of months ago; an L.O.P virus and something else minor. They were both quarantined by AVG and I haven't had any problems since.

I have searched Google, and what I have found seems to suggest that it has nothing to do with my computer, but that fact that I get the e-mails from "myself" on a regular basis scares me. Can anybody shed some light on the situation?

I'm on vacation right now, and I shouldn't be worrying about it, but I can't help it...

Internet email headers are fun. They have machine readable bits and display bits. So they contain a machine readable sent from field and a display sent from field. If you put the same email address in the display to field and the display from field you appear to be receiving emails from yourself. It's technique that spammers use to disguise where the emails are from. Another technique in to put Bill.Gates@Microsoft.com in the visible from field.

The defense is to use an email service with good spam filters. Gmail is about the best. Do not trust any email to tell you who it is really from. This is a fundamental problem with Internet email and there is some work currently being done to try to ensure that emails are from whom they say they are but getting agreements is hard.

Cheerio John

 

[Euphod]

Of course, it's possible you are E Mailing yourself ..... FROM THE FUTURE! Dunt, dunt...DAH! If you do end up getting in contact with yourself, do not....I repeat....NO NOT arrange a meeting! The fate of the world as we know it rests in your hands!

Actually though; the world as we know it pretty much sucks, I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a beer or two with yourself!

 

[FLWBStrainman]

Well, I'd just as soon get rid of the screen name. It is not my main one, but one that I created a couple years back and very seldom use. Again, my other AOL screen name is NOT affected. My main concern is that it is a bigger issue, like a virus or worm on my computer. Does it sound like this could be the issue? I've talked to the folks at GeekSquad, and they suggested that my computer might be an infected "zombie computer." Is that a possibility? As I've said, I've done multiple scans with AVG, Spybot, Anti-MalwareBytes, and Windows Defender, and the scans found nothing.

Thanks for reading.

 

[clam1952]

Well, I'd just as soon get rid of the screen name. It is not my main one, but one that I created a couple years back and very seldom use. Again, my other AOL screen name is NOT affected. My main concern is that it is a bigger issue, like a virus or worm on my computer. Does it sound like this could be the issue? I've talked to the folks at GeekSquad, and they suggested that my computer might be an infected "zombie computer." Is that a possibility? As I've said, I've done multiple scans with AVG, Spybot, Anti-MalwareBytes, and Windows Defender, and the scans found nothing.

Thanks for reading.

Ex AOL Technical Computing Message Board host here ........
I wouldn't worry about it to be honest it's probably not coming from your mail but doctored to look as if it is, it's a common problem with AOL in that the Screen names are the email address and up until AOL killed of their message boards, were very easy to harvest, just stick the name in google and see where it shows up! Either that or someone you know has had their address book compromised, it's just another way of getting you to read their stupid spam, just change your mail settings to address book only or AOL only on that name or delete it and that should stop it. Other than that as they are usually in some country that has no internet regulation their isn't a lot anyone can do.
It's dead easy to tell from the email header if it's nothing to do with you. Most people I know on AOL have had this problem at some time, after a few days they go away and bother someone else.

If your PC had been invaded they would probably be using an active address anyway not one that you don't use and if your PC was being used as a bot it wouldn't be emailing you announcing it's presence. It would more than likely be running slow with activity on your connection when you are not using it, watch the lights on the router.

Just to set your mind at rest though I'd get hold of a root kit scanner as none of the above will be much use against a root kit infection. This one should suffice http://www.sophos.com/products/free-tools/sophos-anti-rootkit.html

I do all my online stuff on Linux or OSX now, avoids having to worry much about such things.

 

[johnwhelan]

Well, I'd just as soon get rid of the screen name. It is not my main one, but one that I created a couple years back and very seldom use. Again, my other AOL screen name is NOT affected. My main concern is that it is a bigger issue, like a virus or worm on my computer. Does it sound like this could be the issue? I've talked to the folks at GeekSquad, and they suggested that my computer might be an infected "zombie computer." Is that a possibility? As I've said, I've done multiple scans with AVG, Spybot, Anti-MalwareBytes, and Windows Defender, and the scans found nothing.

Thanks for reading.

Nothing that you have mentioned so far indicates your machine is infected. Technically I can create an email on my machine exactly as you describe and send it to you, it will have your name in the visible from field. There is nothing here to worry about.

Cheerio John

 

[FLWBStrainman]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I feel I can finally stop worrying about this and enjoy my vacation.