More on email spammers

[Jim Sheppard]

My email account was compromised late last night. Likely a Spammer collecting valid email addresses.
Most people know to disregard this type of message. I do all the time, but might have slipped up. I got my first warning that something was amiss last night at 11:33 PM. when a friend advised he has received a message with a "Click on this" area.

Subsequently could not sign in to my email...as likely the spammer had changed my password to get to my mailing list. Now I am getting flooded with messages from folks in my address book! Sheesh!

First clue that i had been compromised was when I went through the process of changing my email password and they let me choose the old password! So I knew someone had changed it.... hence I could not log in last night.

If you received this message from me, simply delete it. I NEVER SEND SUCH A MESSAGE attachment without a thorough explanation accompanying same. "CLICK ON SUCH AND SUCH" with no other comment is a dead giveaway.

Likely no harm was done even if you attempted to open the document or photo. If nothing opened, you are likely safe. You may change your password, but this is likely not necessary. Spammers send out these emails and can be notified that you have opened the mail. That's all they need. Their intention is simply to put together lists of valid email addresses to sell to other spammers. I hesitate to use the word "hacked" since hackers are usually much more malicious as they ARE trying to access ways to compromise bank accounts and/or credit card information, etc.

Nevertheless, it was good to hear from the handful of folks who contacted me about the questionable message! Jack Noble, Ernie Milito and even Tom Schroeder's widow!

I suppose it's part of the risk one runs when they have a very active email account for many years. I have had my Juno account since 1995! I also use a Gmail account at times. That is: 50thInfantryAssociation@gmail.com.

Jim Sheppard