SPAM WARNING

I've just had a look at my spam folder which contains a good many of these. Thanks, gmail, for detecting them.

Thanks Elegran I think I had one of these from amazon just a few weeks ago. I did try open it but the ipad wouldn't let me so I contacted amazon direct. But I'll be more vigilant now I understand it better :0)

I reckon 'spam' covers any unsolicited e-mail...

Appreciated , Deserving !!

kiora Spam is messages from a stranger, trying to sell you something or getting you to go to their website, or just being a damn nuisance.

like Some are just advertising, like the junk mail that comes through the letterbox, or the jokes and sentimental posts that do the rounds of emails, but some can be a deliberate attempt to trick you into revealing a username and/or password, which they can then use to pretend to be you.

They can then order stuff that you pay for, or get into your account to move money into theirs. They can be very clever, giving a link which goes to a copy they have made of a genuine bank website, where they ask you for your password - which goes straight to them.

If you get one which looks as though it is one of these, do not follow the link they give, but open a new browser window and go direct to your bank or other account and ask them whether they are trying to contact you.

Wasn't caught personally, just thought I would mention it.

feetlebaum A winner!

The thing to do, @deserving, is to tell the caller that you have taken the item to your nearest Police Station, and that they can pick it up from there...

If in doubt don't open. Re scams look on Hoax Slayer.
www.hoax-slayer.com/

Beware, your address and name can easily be discovered (and other things) You could get a 'phone call saying that unfortunately an item had been sent to you by mistake. To your surprise a valuable item has just arrived, something you haven't ordered or expected. The caller apologises profusely and says a courier will collect it later, They do. They have ordered it in your name using your address, having collected it you will find you do not have the item only a bill.
Beware also a call from the bank, with some cock and bull story, who then to confirm ask you to call them back, using the banks 'phone number, as they have not "hung up' the line is still connected to them, some even play a ring tone over the line.

I was getting stuff apparently from BT last year, and did pick up something - it cost me!

It all depends on who you use to send emails with, all of mine come into their own boxes, gransnet, named friends, and so on, so I know immediately where it comes from

newist, how do you send emails back to the sender? I can't see that option on my email account.

I had one this week about my NatWest credit card account. I don't have one.

I have had my e-mail address hacked in the past. Fortunately it was a very good friend who received a rather nasty missive proporting to be from me. She knew I wouldn't have sent it.

I bounce every email back to sender if I don't' know who sent it, that way the sender thinks my email address does not exist and does not bother me again

A couple of friends had their mail addressed hijacked somehow. So emails arrived which came from them, or so it appeared. The first time I unsuspectingly clicked on the link and nearly imported a nasty virus. Luckily my virus protection was excellent and a big red exclamation mark flashed onto my screen with a warning. I informed the sender a she told me she was aware of this. So why didn't she create a new email address and warn her 'friends'. Others weren't so fortunate and it cost them time and money to get rid of the virus and restore corrupted files.

Since then I've had two more such emails from addresses I know as friends. But I only open links now if I'm sure of them and they're accompanied by a personal greeting.

I have dozens of the type saying they're from my bank, etc. They are all cons and I just delete them.

The basic rule is NEVER click on a link in an email. If it says it is from Bank, Paypal or anywhere else go to that site using you normal method and not via the link they provide.

I've been getting the PayPal ones quiet regularly but have ignored them as I haven't used PayPal for months.

The spam filter on my hotmail account seems to be pretty efficient - hardly any get through. The ones that do are easy enough to spot and delete straight away.

I received an email this morning apparently from Apple about my account. As I have been having problems iwth itunes I nearly believed it, but being very wary of anything which asks me to download a document I went into the big city Apple store to ask advice. The impossibly young tech child said it was indeed a scam. Phew. He showed me that if you click on 'details' next to the sent from line, it will give you the address it has come from, and of course it wasn't Apple.

I shall use this details check in future on any email I'm not sure of. HMRC on their website have an address you can forward spam email to so that they can deal with it. I seem to get quite a few about tax rebates, pity they are never real!

Hi Can anyone tell me in a very simple none tech way what exactly is spam is it just an e-mail and can you open it then press delete or something more sinister?

One looking like it's from PayPal, inviting you to check your recent purchases. Don't open - it's not from them.

There was me thinking of that pink stuff in a tin my Mum insisted on calling (very Hyacinth at times, my Mum) "Luncheon meat".

Saw a lot in my junk mail - many picking up on the current disaster with pleas for help. Disgusting.

Thank you, AliOxon. Good to be aware of this.