spam spam spam...

petrs · 18 Jan 2007, 02:50 PM

is runbox having issue w/ leaked usernames?

I've signed up about a week ago w/ 8-character user name (shouldn't be too short) that doesn't have any meaning in any language but italian. I haven't sent a single email from that account, still I am receiving around 10-15 spam messages a day...

I'm also using paid service of microsoft for about 2 years and I don't receive more than 1 or 2 spam emails a monh there...

carverrn · 18 Jan 2007, 10:05 PM

I don't think so.

I have several usernames that don't receive any spam and I've had them for a couple of years.

One does get a lot of spam but that doesn't surprise me for that particular account.

Regards,
Rich

petrs · 18 Jan 2007, 10:47 PM

what suprises me is the speed & # of spam emails I am getting - only one week after I signed up...

I do get a lot of spam to my office email - about 20-30 a day, but I work here for > 10years so it doesn't surpise me.

I just feel helpless after signing up for 3-year period w/ runbox :-(

mbz · 19 Jan 2007, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by petrs
I just feel helpless after signing up for 3-year period w/ runbox :-(

In this case, I would have requested a change of username. Contact Runbox support. I am sure they will help you.

Please see this post, quote #2, for a great explanation on possible reasons behind your username being spammed.

carverrn · 19 Jan 2007, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by petrs
what suprises me is the speed & # of spam emails I am getting - only one week after I signed up...

I do get a lot of spam to my office email - about 20-30 a day, but I work here for > 10years so it doesn't surpise me.

I just feel helpless after signing up for 3-year period w/ runbox :-(

Have you ever used that username, not the full address but just the username, at any other service ... Yahoo ID, Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Groups, Hot Mail, Newsgroups ... your office email username?

Spammers frequently take usernames from other emails, forums and newsgroups and automatically add them to the domains for common email services. This is because people like to use the same username from one service to another.

For example, a quick Goolge on your forum name "petrs" found that name at flickr.com, wikimedia.org, couchsurfing.com and an email address at sources.redhat.com.

You might want to try that with the Runbox username you used.

Regards,
Rich

petrs · 19 Jan 2007, 01:49 AM

for obvious reasons my username is not petrs - then I would most likely be - rightfully so - called stupid by several users of this forum for using so short username :-)

my username is double the length, 8 characters. I used to have a gmail account w/ the same username and I own .net domain w/ the same text.

I guess I will try & request change of username - my desired one gives 'only' 180 hints on google compared to 437 for my current username...

18 Jan 2007, 02:50 PM	#1
petrs Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 134	spam & leaked usernames? is runbox having issue w/ leaked usernames? I've signed up about a week ago w/ 8-character user name (shouldn't be too short) that doesn't have any meaning in any language but italian. I haven't sent a single email from that account, still I am receiving around 10-15 spam messages a day... I'm also using paid service of microsoft for about 2 years and I don't receive more than 1 or 2 spam emails a monh there... Last edited by petrs : 18 Jan 2007 at 03:00 PM.

18 Jan 2007, 10:05 PM	#2
carverrn Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 5,606 Representative of: Runbox.com	I don't think so. I have several usernames that don't receive any spam and I've had them for a couple of years. One does get a lot of spam but that doesn't surprise me for that particular account. Regards, Rich

18 Jan 2007, 10:47 PM	#3
petrs Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 134	what suprises me is the speed & # of spam emails I am getting - only one week after I signed up... I do get a lot of spam to my office email - about 20-30 a day, but I work here for > 10years so it doesn't surpise me. I just feel helpless after signing up for 3-year period w/ runbox :-(

19 Jan 2007, 01:49 AM	#6
petrs Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 134	for obvious reasons my username is not petrs - then I would most likely be - rightfully so - called stupid by several users of this forum for using so short username :-) my username is double the length, 8 characters. I used to have a gmail account w/ the same username and I own .net domain w/ the same text. I guess I will try & request change of username - my desired one gives 'only' 180 hints on google compared to 437 for my current username...