{"id":7386,"date":"2019-04-29T13:45:43","date_gmt":"2019-04-29T11:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.combell.com\/en\/blog\/?p=7386"},"modified":"2019-06-12T13:41:07","modified_gmt":"2019-06-12T11:41:07","slug":"caution-blackmail-e-mails-are-going-around","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.combell.com\/en\/blog\/caution-blackmail-e-mails-are-going-around\/","title":{"rendered":"Caution: blackmail e-mails are going around"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you receive an e-mail that at first sight appears to come from your own e-mail address, do not panic! It does not necessarily mean that your e-mail account has been hacked. Here is what you need to do if you receive such an e-mail.<\/p>\n

Anyone can send e-mails in your name<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"NewCurrent e-mail protocols do not verify the mail sender\u2019s identity. Put simply: anyone can create an account in their e-mail program and send e-mails from this account. You could even enter\u00a0bill.gates@microsoft.com<\/a>\u00a0or president@whitehouse.org<\/a>. The e-mail protocol does not check that the address exists or even whether you are entitled to use that e-mail address. This technique is called \u2018spoofing\u2019.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Have you received a blackmailing e-mail with your own e-mail address as sender? Do not panic, as these are usually \u2018harmless\u2019 spam messages.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Others can use your e-mail address just as easily as you do. When you receive an e-mail that appears at first sight to come from your own e-mail address, you do not need to get in a panic. It does not mean that hackers have broken into your e-mail account or have access to your mailboxes.<\/p>\n

View the e-mail solutions available at Combell<\/a><\/p>\n

Purpose of these e-mails: spam, phishing, malware or blackmail<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"EveryoneBut why is the sender using these fake e-mail addresses? There can be various reasons for this\u2026<\/p>\n

Most misuse of someone\u2019s e-mail address happens with addresses of organisations<\/strong> such as supermarkets, providers, etc. This usually involves \u2018phishing\u2019 e-mails, whose purpose is to forward spam or obtain financial or other information. You can read more about this type of e-mails in our previous blog on fake e-mails<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The latest wave of fake e-mails is misusing personal e-mail addresses<\/strong> with the aim of blackmailing<\/strong> you.<\/p>\n

Characteristics of the latest blackmailing e-mails<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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