Ikonboard » Printable Version of Topic » Someone else using my e-mail -- HELP

Forum: Geek Forum
Topic: Someone else using my e-mail -- HELP
started by: Jynx

Posted by Jynx on Oct. 08 2001,16:55

I realize that I am revealing my extreme n00biness, but I'm hoping to get some help here.

Yesterday, when I checked my home e-mail, I got 10 notifications that my e-mail was returned. This was very odd, because I hadn't sent any e-mail! Upon further inspection, the e-mail itself had a subject of "GUARANTEED Visitors & Leads You Pay Only For Performance!" There are a couple of e-mail links to "traffic_quality@yahoo.com" and "trafficrmvme@yahoo.com", but no other hints.

Does anyone have any good idea of how to either draw attention to this odious practice and/or let the offending party know that I know what they're doing and that I don't approve and/or mete out appropriate punishment? Any and all suggestions are welcome.

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--Jynx

I used to be a kleptomanicac, but I took something for it.

Posted by chmod on Oct. 08 2001,18:08

It might also be a good idea to change your password to that account.

Posted by Jynx on Oct. 08 2001,19:29

Heh, the account they're using is actually a redirector to my real account (www.bigfoot.com). I don't believe that the password is used for that redirector account.

Thanks, Observer, I'll take a look and see what I can find.

--J

Posted by [liquid] meta on Oct. 08 2001,21:46

they're not doing anything to your account though. they're just putting your email address in the from field. they don't need to log into your email account to do this.

please, see what Observer wrote.

Posted by miNus on Oct. 09 2001,02:38

observer = teh smarteh

That's why he's called Observer I guess

Oh yes, see what Observer wrote. (this is going to be my canned answer to everything from now on )

This message has been edited by miNus on October 09, 2001 at 09:39 PM

Posted by Observer on Oct. 09 2001,05:21

Could be that someone is just putting your address as the return address. Not much you can do about that; about as much as stopping someone from using your return address on a letter.

Which actually is considerable. Just as you can check the postmark on a letter, you should be able to view the full routing information on the emails that returned. That lets you find the address from which they were being sent. If all you have to go on is an IP address, run it through a handy tracing utility available < here >.

Once you have enough info, you may be able to contact the offender's ISP and work out some sort of solution.

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When 1337 hax0rs start impaling each other with swords and typing code with a hook on one hand, then they can modify the term "pirate."

Posted by L33T_h4x0r_d00d on Oct. 09 2001,13:06

If I remember right, standard pop accounts do not require the password to send mail, only to pull it.

Not saying that he didnt just put you in the return address field but its something to chew on.

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L33T_h4x0r_d00d you are the king of obscure references - miNus

Posted by @$$h0l3 on Oct. 10 2001,03:31

Did you look at the full headers of the emails that were returned to you? If you're using a web-mail account, somewhere in the options area will be a "display full headers" or something of that nature. If you click on that, it will give you an idea of the origin of the message. If you don't have any idea what the headers mean, you can send them to the address in my profile, and I'll take a look.

And it might be a good idea to save these messages should anyone bitch about the unsolicited email. If you can prove they're forged, you'll be in the clear.