What will them scammers come up with next?

Eliseu Gouveia · 04-17-2012, 02:37 AM

So I got another e-mail sent to me from Eliseu Gouveia.

Something-fiscal-something with a suspicious zip file for me to download and open.
I know, right? What IS this, 1997?

Now not only is it sent by someone using my name, but against my better judgement I clicked on the repply button just to see what address would appear on the sender´s address field... and my own e-mail address appeared.

I know it´s pretty easy to get my e-mail address or the name of a person attached to an e-mail address since I use it professionaly and I don´t make a secret of it, but... how on earth are they doing this?

I have no trojans, no viruses, no keyloggers, no nothing on my machine, damn thing was pristine last time I checked and I check it every other days.

I´m sure there´s some trick involving internet lingo, html code and masks or some techno babble, but... enlighten me if you can because I am officially boggled.

Biofungus · 04-17-2012, 11:38 AM

This was a big issue, like 8+ years ago. Spoofing the email info is so easy, even a caveman can do it (and it's even easier than getting a 15 minute quote on auto insurance!).

CHWolf · 04-17-2012, 01:13 PM

Yeah, it's just e-mail spoofing.

It would surprise most people that you can actually (somewhat easily) send an e-mail 'from' any address you damned well please.

We're kind of lead to believe this is all some sort of iron-clad secure shit... However, this is why (unless you have some skeletons in your closet or financial info written out) there's really no point to going nuts on e-mail/facebook/etc. security. You're just typing in private information and sending it to a company for essentially no good reason.

Eliseu Gouveia · 04-17-2012, 01:54 PM

Thanks, guys.
I think I´ve heard about that a couple years ago but who can remember that far back? ^_^

04-17-2012, 02:37 AM	#1
Eliseu Gouveia Suteki Da Ne Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Outside looking in Posts: 2,907	What will them scammers come up with next? So I got another e-mail sent to me from Eliseu Gouveia. Something-fiscal-something with a suspicious zip file for me to download and open. I know, right? What IS this, 1997? Now not only is it sent by someone using my name, but against my better judgement I clicked on the repply button just to see what address would appear on the sender´s address field... and my own e-mail address appeared. I know it´s pretty easy to get my e-mail address or the name of a person attached to an e-mail address since I use it professionaly and I don´t make a secret of it, but... how on earth are they doing this? I have no trojans, no viruses, no keyloggers, no nothing on my machine, damn thing was pristine last time I checked and I check it every other days. I´m sure there´s some trick involving internet lingo, html code and masks or some techno babble, but... enlighten me if you can because I am officially boggled.

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04-17-2012, 11:38 AM	#2
Biofungus Not for your amusement Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Nega-Earth Posts: 22,064	This was a big issue, like 8+ years ago. Spoofing the email info is so easy, even a caveman can do it (and it's even easier than getting a 15 minute quote on auto insurance!).

04-17-2012, 01:13 PM	#3
CHWolf BANNED Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: In the Conservatory, with the Revolver. Posts: 5,643	Yeah, it's just e-mail spoofing. It would surprise most people that you can actually (somewhat easily) send an e-mail 'from' any address you damned well please. We're kind of lead to believe this is all some sort of iron-clad secure shit... However, this is why (unless you have some skeletons in your closet or financial info written out) there's really no point to going nuts on e-mail/facebook/etc. security. You're just typing in private information and sending it to a company for essentially no good reason.

04-17-2012, 01:54 PM	#4
Eliseu Gouveia Suteki Da Ne Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Outside looking in Posts: 2,907	Thanks, guys. I think I´ve heard about that a couple years ago but who can remember that far back? ^_^