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my Thunderbird keeps sending a msg many times. .

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by tobiasonp

tobiasonp
tobiasonp

continuous sending. Mrs. Sandra Williams supposedly in Scotland. . I'm not sending these but can't seem to stop it. I keep getting "undelivered mail returned to sender. I did virus check and CC Cleaner. Did restart. Got latest version of Thunderbird.

continuous sending. Mrs. Sandra Williams supposedly in Scotland. . I'm not sending these but can't seem to stop it. I keep getting "undelivered mail returned to sender. I did virus check and CC Cleaner. Did restart. Got latest version of Thunderbird.

Chosen solution

When a spammer send mail, they tend to use a "harvested" email address. It make it easier for them.

Part of the mail system is to send a message back what a message can not be delivered. That is what you are getting. The failure to deliver the spam messages.

Usually they go on for a week or two and then the spammer moves on to another email address on their list of "harvested" emails.

While the email was sent purporting to be from you, it was almost certainly not from you, or they would appear in your sent folder. Almost always they are sent from somewhere like Nigeria or India using your email address and a forged path. linking to another email the scammer wants people to reply to. There is very little you can do about it.

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All Replies (4)

Matt
Matt
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor

You are getting backscatter. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backscatter_(email)

It has nothing to do with Thunderbird or you really. You just get to wear it.

tobiasonp
tobiasonp Question owner

Thank you. I'll try to learn what "backscatter" is and does. The local provided suggested that I change my pw which I have done. Hopefully this solves the problem. The odd msg indicated it was from someone in Scotland asking for a "charity donation". Thanks again.

Matt
Matt
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor

Chosen Solution

When a spammer send mail, they tend to use a "harvested" email address. It make it easier for them.

Part of the mail system is to send a message back what a message can not be delivered. That is what you are getting. The failure to deliver the spam messages.

Usually they go on for a week or two and then the spammer moves on to another email address on their list of "harvested" emails.

While the email was sent purporting to be from you, it was almost certainly not from you, or they would appear in your sent folder. Almost always they are sent from somewhere like Nigeria or India using your email address and a forged path. linking to another email the scammer wants people to reply to. There is very little you can do about it.

tobiasonp
tobiasonp Question owner

Thanks so much for your help. Too bad there's no way to wipe out the guys...