Are E-post scams possible?

Inept

Inept

Senior Member
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Is there any danger in giving someone your e-mail address if they don’t have your pass word? I've met someone on-line and she wants to communicate by e-post. I would like to give her my e-post address but I am worried. What should I do?
 

Inept said:
Is there any danger in giving someone your e-mail address if they don’t have your pass word? I've met someone on-line and she wants to communicate by e-post. I would like to give her my e-post address but I am worried. What should I do?
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I’m not sure but I would be careful.

If it’s important to you I would create a throw away email address specifically for this purpose.
 
Inept said:
Thank you.

I have an extra e-mail address but can I use it over and over again or do I have to destroy it after one use?
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I have no experience with this but if you only use that email for a simgle purpose you will know the source if a problem does occur.

Good luck, stay safe!
 
Murrmurr said:
Well, they could send you a bunch of spam, but that's all. And you solve that by blocking their address.
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So, everything is cool really. Just spam or block them like any other unwanted e-mail? They can't steal my personal info or access my friends addresses? So, it's just a matter of not allowing anyone my password, right. I was getting paranoid o_O over nothing. Thank you, Murrmurr! :)
 
Inept said:
Yes, I am sure that's true. But the question is ...... what sort of problem can occure if they don't have your password?
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I wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide... for your question, I'm not sure true hackers would need to have a password to do what they do. I'll add that many of the "scams" we hear about are catfishing schemes, so I'd say just be careful. I can see someone wanting to talk via email, but the minute there's a sob story or any talk of money, run. Hug for luck! 🫂
 
CallMeKate said:
I wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide...
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Thank you.
CallMeKate said:
for your question, I'm not sure true hackers would need to have a password to do what they do.
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That's what has me worried. We hear so many examples of scams left and right and if you're not a computer wizard (I am certainly not!) then you don't what to do or not to do.
CallMeKate said:
I'll add that many of the "scams" we hear about are catfishing schemes
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Yes.
CallMeKate said:
I can see someone wanting to talk via email
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Everyone would.
CallMeKate said:
, but the minute there's a sob story or any talk of money, run.
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Oh no! There's no chance of me falling into that hole.
CallMeKate said:
Hug for luck! 🫂
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Hugs right back at you! :love:
 
You won’t get scammed by only giving out your email, but you can get spammed. Email lists are bought and sold all the time.

Be aware that there are people that will engage in seemingly sincere communication for a month or more to gain your trust before getting you to invest in some fraudulent scheme. See ‘Pig Butchering' Scams: What They Are and How to Avoid Them
 
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Pepper said:
I wouldn't enter into a relationship I am suspicious of.
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This one isn't a relationship other than just being friendly but I know what you mean. I just think as a friendly correspondence I feel it's too early to exchange e-post addresses and talk about WhatsApp. Maybe I’m being an old fuddy duddy but you can get scammed even if it isn’t a romantic relationship and I would like to wait just a little bit longer before we start telephoning one another.
 
Michael Z said:
You won’t get scammed by only giving out your email,
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That's what Murrmurr was saying and it's very good news. Thank you.
Michael Z said:
but you can get spammed. Email lists are bought and sold all the time.
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I've read about that.
Michael Z said:
Be aware that there are people that will engage in seemingly sincere communication for a month or more to gain your trust before getting you to invest in some fraudulent scheme. See ‘Pig Butchering' Scams: What They Are and How to Avoid Them
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There is no way I will send a penny to anyone. The first mention of money and I'll pounce on the "block" button for sure. That's a promise. :)
 
Inept said:
This one isn't a relationship other than just being friendly but I know what you mean. I just think as a friendly correspondence I feel it's too early to exchange e-post addresses and talk about WhatsApp.
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Totally agree here (re: "too early.") In fact, if there's another place you're already talking, and it's just a friendship thing, maybe there's not really a need for email exchange at all?
 
Inept said:
Is there any danger in giving someone your e-mail address if they don’t have your pass word? I've met someone on-line and she wants to communicate by e-post. I would like to give her my e-post address but I am worried. What should I do?
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I did online dating years ago and I communicated by email. My email is an account with an address consisting of letters and numbers and I don't have an identifying signature. So it's very cryptic.

It's funny. I made up this email account back in 1996 or so and because it's
not my name, I can easily spot spam email because it's addressed to "Dear xxxxx" where the xxxx is series of letters and numbers.
 
OldFeller said:
I did online dating years ago and I communicated by email. My email is an account with an address consisting of letters and numbers and I don't have an identifying signature. So it's very cryptic.
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Very interesting.
OldFeller said:
It's funny. I made up this email account back in 1996 or so and because it's
not my name, I can easily spot spam email because it's addressed to "Dear xxxxx" where the xxxx is series of letters and numbers.
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Yes, it is funny! :D
 
OldFeller said:
My email is an account with an address consisting of letters and numbers and I don't have an identifying signature. So it's very cryptic.
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I knew someone who always did something like that when signing up for anything. He used the name of the place as part of his signup name... and for years he always knew where junk mail both online and postal mail was spammed from. Signing up for Verizon, his name would have been like "BenVerizonS." A signup for Hulu would be "BenHuluS." He always knew which of the places sold his address and wasn't afraid to let them know he didn't appreciate it. :ROFLMAO:
 
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Inept said:
So, everything is cool really. Just spam or block them like any other unwanted e-mail? They can't steal my personal info or access my friends addresses? So, it's just a matter of not allowing anyone my password, right. I was getting paranoid o_O over nothing. Thank you, Murrmurr! :)
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IMHO if we, the honest folks can think it up, the scammers already have.

BTW, don’t fall for the digital versions of “my grandmother needs an operation, please send money”.
 
Inept said:
So, everything is cool really. Just spam or block them like any other unwanted e-mail? They can't steal my personal info or access my friends addresses? So, it's just a matter of not allowing anyone my password, right. I was getting paranoid o_O over nothing. Thank you, Murrmurr! :)
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The reason we have passwords is because they work. For an extra layer of security, you can set up what's called 2-auth or second-auth on your email account. That's where you type in your phone number so your email server can text you a code number every time you sign onto your email, or you can choose to select security questions instead, like "the name of my first pet". If your email server offers 2-auth, you'll see those options on the log in page.

But I don't think it's necessary. Email scammers send you junk email, they don't steal your contacts list or anything. That's done electronically using a phishing tool. Your email address isn't needed by a particular scammer to do that, and most email servers have a security tool that blocks phishing.

You email page no doubt has a settings icon, and settings has a menu that includes the word security. That's where you can set up 2-auth, if they have it. Check it out if you want. It's a good idea to update your email to ensure you have the most current security tools.

But I'm sure it's safe to give your future e-pal your email address.
 

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