Email from user Anna91

[Dale]

Hello, TMB members!

This morning, many people received a spam email from a user named Anna91, which included a link.

The user and her IP has been banned from the boards. If you received an email, DO NOT click on the link or reply to the email. If you do so, you may inadvertently compromise your identity.

Thanks to all who reported the suspicious email. It is very appreciated as we endeavor to keep our boards safe!

Dale - TMB Board Czar

[RedsPastor]

Is there anyway to know how "she" got the emails in the first place?

[Deleted User 2663]

I don't think the actual had anyone's email address. You can send emails through the board, and I think she did it that way. All she knew were our screen names here, as far as I can tell. I have gotten actual emails before from members and it was always from the board admin, sent through the board to me, not directly from the other user

[PaulB]

I don't think the actual had anyone's email address. You can send emails through the board, and I think she did it that way. All she knew were our screen names here, as far as I can tell. I have gotten actual emails before from members and it was always from the board admin, sent through the board to me, not directly from the other user

You are correct. "She" can only get a user's email if they reply to "her" via email.

BTW, these incidents are very low because of the excellent filter we use that reduces bots accounts and stops spam emails. This used to be far more common.

Last week, that system challenged 13 sign up attempts. (Others were allowed without challenge.) Twelve proved to be valid, one was rejected. The system also challenged 10,192 posts. Two were marked as valid after a catch was compleated, the other 10,190 were rejected.

False positives are very low - have not had one reported in at least half a year. A trickle of spam makes it, but the ratio is very good.

BTW, the recent event was probably a real person.

[SeekingChange]

Is there anyway to know how "she" got the emails in the first place?

If you go to a person's profile, if they have selected "yes" to receiving messages via email, that option is available via a link. (Every user has control of their own settings.) It is NOT sent directly from them, they DO NOT see your email address... but IF you reply to that email, it then becomes like regular email communication and they WILL see your email. So, if your email includes identifying information, like a name, location, etc, or linked to you publicly, that is how your identity could have been compromised.

[Deleted User 2294]

..... a bit sad to realize I am not, after all, that special to Anna.....I was just one of many....

[Irnmyk]

Well, I got the e-mail too, didn't find it in my junk until after I had been warned, fortunately, but, the message was "do you want to meet single
women?"

That's av easy answer, no, I live with this married gal, married to me, that I wouldn't trade for a dozen of her "single women", no insult meant to her "single women".

[RedsPastor]

Is there anyway to know how "she" got the emails in the first place?

If you go to a person's profile, if they have selected "yes" to receiving messages via email, that option is available via a link. (Every user has control of their own settings.) It is NOT sent directly from them, they DO NOT see your email address... but IF you reply to that email, it then becomes like regular email communication and they WILL see your email. So, if your email includes identifying information, like a name, location, etc, or linked to you publicly, that is how your identity could have been compromised.

I didn't know about this feature and appreciate you pointing this out. I have turned mine off now.

@PaulB, thank you for all the hard work you do and getting technology to keep us "safe" from the nasties.

@lrnmyk is spot on. I have no desire to meet a single lady. I have a married lady that is infinitely more amazing than "anna" could TRY to be on her best day.

[LovingHimAlways]

I didn't get the email, fortunately. I just wanted to say thanks for all that y'all do to keep the boards nice for us.

[PaulB]

Anna went to a lot of work to do what she did. If you are willing to put in the time you can get around pretty much any protection. As here are a lot of easier places so we get mostly ignored.