It doesn't necessarily mean they sold your details though, as it is possible a bot randomly generated your email address. Also some viruses (or similar) search for email addresses which are then passed on to spammers. I've received quite a lot of spam via this method, due to being on a local mailing list.nodnirG kraM wrote: That way if I ever get any mail to argos260606@ I'll know who it was that sold the details, when it was I signed up, plus it makes it easier to block any future messages by automatically deleting any messages addressed to argos260606@.
need your advice: Have been added to a mailinglist
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Charlie Wells
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Tue 02 Nov, 2004 16.23
- Location: Cambridgeshire
"If ass holes could fly then this place would be an airport."
gmail also support what they dub "plus addressing"
therefore if someone emails [email protected] then I know he's flogged my details
therefore if someone emails [email protected] then I know he's flogged my details
"He has to be larger than bacon"
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Gavin Scott
- Admin
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- Location: Edinburgh
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Yoinks! That was tantalisingly close to my actual gmail addy.Hymagumba wrote:gmail also support what they dub "plus addressing"
therefore if someone emails [email protected] then I know he's flogged my details
Another place spammers scoop off lovely addresses is when you get those stupid email forwards (usually with some inane joke or quiz). Often people forward and reforward them, providing thousands of email addresses (because most people just stick all the names in To:). Only one of those recipients, whose numbers are exponentially growing with each forward, has to be a spammer for your name to get on a nasty list. And if you've got friends who do those email forwards, it's an impossible trap to get out of!