From: "Dave Sergeant" <dave@davesergeant.com>
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:59:05 +0100
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Subject: Re: LF: Off Topic - Spam mails.
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On 23 Jun 2009 at 18:40, Gary - G4WGT wrote:

> This is a bit worrying, I am getting spam e-mails using my e-mail
> address (this one - g4wgt) as the source/return address. I have already
> had a post from some one in Germany querying the validity of the return
> mail address so many others must be getting them also.
> 
> 
> 
> Is there some way to resolve this issue, stop it happening or notify
> some authority or what-ever?

In a word, no....

Spammers often do choose innocent individuals as the 'from' address as 
their spam mails - they are not sent by you at all of course, rather by 
large numbers of infected machines all over the world which they hijack 
for their purposes. It is virtually impossible to trace exactly where 
the mails were actually sent, and even if you did you could do nothing. 
These attacks usually die down after a few days after the spammer has 
sent his particular run.

Best way though is to stop your email address getting to the spammers 
in the first place - NEVER open spam mails if you have allowed your 
email program to download remote graphics (that means the preview pane 
as well) as that will confirm your address is valid. Never put your 
email address on websites in the clear, and general take care on who 
you do give it to. Using a program such as Mailwasher to preview and 
delete the spam before it gets to your email program is a good idea as 
well (but do NOT use its 'bounce' feature as that makes your particular 
problem infinitely worse).

73 Dave G3YMC

http://www.davesergeant.com