Phishing

[jasonb1960]

I know I am dragging this up from the past but there are anti spam programs out there like SPAM ASSASIN. These will delete the spam automatically before you even see it. It will also update itself for new spam.

[computerflyer]

Any email account will accept incoming unless a system admin disables the account. Send an email to a random address that doesn't exist to see what a bounce looks like.

If a simple minded spammer sends an email, and it doesn't bounce, he has found a real address. You are also correct that most spam are forged and will be returned to an innocent third party. Replying to spam ensures you get on the sucker list.

As Dales61 advised, Bouncing them oneself, as with mailwasher or similar, is a waste of time and often counter-productive.

Spammers don't care if they bounce or not, they just saturate the net.

I interpreted the spoof@ email as being to the real business, such as Telstra or another reputable business. You are correct that spoof reports need to be considered carefully as to whether they go where one expects.

Dales61 > Therefore, if you get 'em, delete 'em.

Good advice. Users can also train most email clients to recognise spam and delete it for you, or put it into the junk folder for your review. Most mail hosting services do this, but users can fine tune it as the service usually errs on the side of caution so one doesn't miss something important.

[Dale61]

computerflyer wrote 'Any email that doesn't bounce is an active account so one need do nothing to "help out" the spammer.'

If an email address wasn't active, how would an email to that address get bounced? It has to be set up to do so.

Also, how do you know that the return address isn't forged? What good would bouncing a spam email do?

End users should never use a program to bounce spam in hopes of abusing the spammer or getting removed from spam mailing lists. Spammers will never see those fake bounces, they'll go to an innocent person who may report the bouncer for sending them spam.

Therefore, if you get 'em, delete 'em.

[Dale61]

computerflyer wrote 'There is no suggestion the OP ever replied to anything. One would wonder the purpose of an "anonymous" email address and what they really mean.'

The OP wrote ' I have forwarded the emails to spoof@ the company'

That is exactly what these spoof companies want you to do. Contact them, and it only indicates that they have found a live address. Just delete them - full stop!

[computerflyer]

There is no suggestion the OP ever replied to anything. One would wonder the purpose of an "anonymous" email address and what they really mean.

As an experiement a few years ago, I set up an unused (not even once, ever) gmail account and after about 6 months it started to accumulate spam. It started slowly and now gets a few hundred a month. The only use the account ever had was my checking the spam.

Fiddlesticks asked how this can happen. The more blatant activities are:

a) they might have hacked into the email server address list (less likely in 2010, but it happens)
b) they randomise addresses (often using name combinations) and bulk send them
c) they inflitrate computers and "send home" personal contact lists
d) they troll web sites and on-line groups, using bots, to find email addresses

Any email that doesn't bounce is an active account so one need do nothing to "help out" the spammer. Anyone foolish enough to reply immediately gets circulated on the top suckers list.

[Dale61]

By replying to the emails, you have actually let them know that your email address is active, which is what they were hoping for.

These types of emails are sent out by a bot, and if you don't reply, it is assumed that the email address is null and void.

By replying, you have basically opened the front door and invited them (the senders) to come and go as they please.

[FiddleSticks]

At the end of 2009 I moved from another isp to Westnet: bundling both internet and landline.
I have not given my Westnet Email address to anybody whatsoever [ it is an anonymous name ]
Since the beginning of 2010 I have received numerous phishing emails.
I have contacted Westnet, who have advised that I could buy extra protection for something like $30 per month!!!!!
Never, before in over a decade of internet usage have I experienced the current situation - tpg/chariot/alphalink.
My Q: who has access to the Westnet addresses?
Further: given that I am using a totally anonymous email address, where is the information coming from?
To the unansered Q: I have forwarded the emails to spoof@ the company / and NO I have not filled in any details whatsoever.
PS: I am delighted with the service from Westnet particularly the tech support on my initial contact.