This may be nothing, but it's worrisome to me, and I am passing it on, because I couldn't find any reference to this kind of problem/hack? on Google.
So, here's how it started (I've changed the names). My friend's name is "johnsmith"
It came in on gmail, with the title "Urgent" , and read as follows:
"How are you? I made a trip, Please I need you to do me a favor..."
I naturally, clicked on the "Reply" and sent him a note... "How can I help?"
No answer for a half hour, then, a note back from him... "my email was hacked."
After an hour, I called him to see what happened. After several busy signals, I finally got through. He was frantic... Apparently his contact list or facebook list had been hacked, and the same message had been sent to everyone on the list. Well over 100 names, and everyone was writing and calling him to see if they could help.
.........................................................................
So here's how I think it worked:
1. His email address is "johnsmith@gmail.com"
2. When I went back to look at the Email, the "from" name was "John Smith via yahoo.com"
3. I didn't notice the "via" part.
4. When I went back to the original mail, and opened the extended address it showed:
"johnsmith <johnsmith@gmail.com> via yahoo.com ".
5. When I went back to look at my "reply", this is how it was addressed.
6. No mention of the viayahoo.com but simply his normal address. John smith has no yahoo address, but I didn't know that.
......................................................................................
Yeah... probably too much to process, but based on my friend's experience, which continues as more of his friends or contacts reply, I thought it serious enough, and tricky enough to be a real problem.... especially if my "itsme" email address could be the start of another hack... maybe directed at me. etc, etc.
In any case, it was enough reason to change my passwords... again. Let's hope this is just another "boy calling wolf".
So, here's how it started (I've changed the names). My friend's name is "johnsmith"
It came in on gmail, with the title "Urgent" , and read as follows:
"How are you? I made a trip, Please I need you to do me a favor..."
I naturally, clicked on the "Reply" and sent him a note... "How can I help?"
No answer for a half hour, then, a note back from him... "my email was hacked."
After an hour, I called him to see what happened. After several busy signals, I finally got through. He was frantic... Apparently his contact list or facebook list had been hacked, and the same message had been sent to everyone on the list. Well over 100 names, and everyone was writing and calling him to see if they could help.
.........................................................................
So here's how I think it worked:
1. His email address is "johnsmith@gmail.com"
2. When I went back to look at the Email, the "from" name was "John Smith via yahoo.com"
3. I didn't notice the "via" part.
4. When I went back to the original mail, and opened the extended address it showed:
"johnsmith <johnsmith@gmail.com> via yahoo.com ".
5. When I went back to look at my "reply", this is how it was addressed.
itsme <itsme@gmail.com>
to: johnsmith <johnsmith@gmail.com>
date: Thu, Aug 3, 2017 at 10:33 AM
subject: Re: Urgent
mailed-by: gmail.com
6. No mention of the viayahoo.com but simply his normal address. John smith has no yahoo address, but I didn't know that.
......................................................................................
Yeah... probably too much to process, but based on my friend's experience, which continues as more of his friends or contacts reply, I thought it serious enough, and tricky enough to be a real problem.... especially if my "itsme" email address could be the start of another hack... maybe directed at me. etc, etc.
In any case, it was enough reason to change my passwords... again. Let's hope this is just another "boy calling wolf".
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