All Thumbs

While I have been around the world of computers much longer than I care to admit, this Internet really baffles this grandma sometimes. Now backing up a bit, let me give you an idea (and laugh) from what cave I come. Would you believe while I was in college those hard drives were as large as a standing grandfather clock and kept behind class enclosures! lol

Anyway, I keep getting an email from the major credit rating companies (although I doubt that it is really them) with the subject line as follows
Alert: Your 2011 Credit-Report-Score Has Problems.

Obviously, I know I do not owe anyone any money so I am not worried but how in the world did they get my eaddress and an address I seldom use? Unfortunately, I seem to get those emails after I have spent hours here. Does anyone else get these types of emails?

Naturally, I have not opened any of them. Love that delete button! Thanks for your input. All Thumbs

amma

Your bank can give some of your info (like email address) to one of it's subsidiaries... I had to opt out of this to stop it from happening.
It is common for one company to share this info with anyone affililiated with them:
Names
Physical Addresses
Phone Numbers
Email Addresses
and depending on who you have dealt with in the past? even more personal info than this.
:D:D:D

luv-e

I think we all get things like that ,one time or another.....I wouldn't open it.......I would SPAM it......

All Thumbs

Okay, another dumb question. What does spamming it do -- block it from ever coming into my address? Or, does it show to them that they are blocked and they give up?

As for me giving out that e-address to a bank or someone, no I do not do that either. The only businesses I have given this to are the quilting board, the Fons&Porter people and other very reputable fabric shops. At all times, I gave written instructions that they were not allowed to share or distribute any of my information, either personal or otherwise. Very interesting how this Internet weaves its web.

becca1231

I get some of those kind of emails too. It's very annoying. I just delete them and go on. There's someone that sends me at least one and sometimes more emails every day. I just keep deleting them. They've been sending them for over a year now. I can delete faster than they can send them though.

BluegrassGurl

Unfortunately, scam artists are always coming up with ways to get to people's information - especially email addresses. Sometimes it is from sites you get on. It could be from a friend opening up an email message and it containing instructions that will grab all their contacts in their email. Sometimes your ISP (Internet Service Provider) will sell email addresses to vendors.

I have not seen any messages like you have described since I have joined this board.

One way to protect your information is to:
1) Get a good anti-virus protection on your computer
2) Have it scheduled to run at least 2x per week
3) Keep the software updated. Computer hackers find new ways to hack systems.... so it is very important to keep your anti-virus software up-to-date.

I hope this is helpful.

Mimito2

As for me giving out that e-address to a bank or someone, no I do not do that either. The only businesses I have given this to are the quilting board, the Fons&Porter people and other very reputable fabric shops. At all times, I gave written instructions that they were not allowed to share or distribute any of my information, either personal or otherwise. Very interesting how this Internet weaves its web.[/quote]

Even if you opt out that does not mean that they don't still do it.

Scissor Queen

There are dictionary programs that run thru every possible name or word combination for email addys.

ktbb

Not a dumb question...identifying it as spam tells your service provider to block the messages from that sender's address. Unfortunately, many places have found a way around even that so just keep hitting that "report spam" button".

cathyvv

Everyone gets this kind of email. You are doing the right thing. Keep on deleting them.

Some of the scam emails I have received looked very official, but no reputable business will ask you to give info like SSN, Credit Card #s, birthdays, etc. either on line or over the phone. (Unless you initiated the call without prompting from one of these scam emails.)

And all the emails from 'whoever' in 'whatever' country, who represents some foreign bank or company you never heard that ask you to help them with a business transaction, just deposit $$$$ in some account and you will see a return of 500% - scam.

Just delete.