Who is BarO?

EddieWalker · Dec 13, 2006

I just got an email in one of my email accounts that I don't remember ever giving out to anybody here. I use it for business and family. At first I thought it was Spam or junk, but it's just too accurate.

Here is what it said;

"Sorry to bother you. I saw someone that looked like your pic on this forum( trying to get close to the goose) in the store today. I should have asked.....

BarO"

Yes, I was at Tractor Supply this afternoon in Tyler and I'm assuming the goose is the thread I started about Steph feeding it.

If BarO reads this, how did you get my email address?

Anybody else have the hairs on the back of your neck stand up from an email?

Eddie

Tanberry · Dec 13, 2006

Eddie ,you would be amazed at the information people can get . I'm in the computer busness and it's a constant battle to secure the network . The last statment they made said in "the" store .. maybe they work there . Good luck with tracking this down , I've had a few similer situations that are to long to post but did creep me out.

JimR · Dec 13, 2006

You can usually find a persons name by typing in a name and location in one of the many reverse email lookups on the net. You just type in Eddie Walker or Edward Walker Tyler Texas and bingo, you have an email address. It is that easy.

fenneran · Dec 13, 2006

Eddie,

You can also look at the "header" of the email. Most programs hide it, but in Outlook for example, you can see it by "view" and "options". This will (sometimes) give you some information about where it came from.

I am in the computer biz as well (for the past 20 years). If you PM me, I can have a look at it and see if it shows anything

Bird · Dec 13, 2006

Eddie, I've gotten 3 e-mails recently thanking me for my loan application and giving me a link to click on to complete the process.

Since I haven't made any loan applications, I don't know how or where they got my e-mail address and I did not click on their links either; just deleted their e-mails.

Thurd Ferguson · Dec 13, 2006

Be afraid, be very afraid!

California · Dec 14, 2006

This is why I now use a screen name.

I used my own name on Fidonet and then for Usenet posts. And also for my ebay seller id. It seemed the honest thing to do.

Then just before I joined TBN, I received over 10,000 bounce messages to my (real name) email saying the viagra spam sent out with my name and email address in the 'from' field had been addressed to a nonexistent recipient.

These bounces came from ISPs mail systems all over the world - U.S., Canada, Europe, India, Korea etc.. I guess I'm world famous now.

I have no idea how many spams reached a real recipient. I received a few 'please stop' emails plus a really rude one from a government clerk somewhere.

That spammer who plugged my name into his software must have had an elaborate operation. Every single one of the 'undeliverable' notices I received, showed 'my' message had originated through a different unique ISP. (posting host is different from the 'from' that the recipient sees).

Never again. I've posted under a screen name ever since.

Dargo · Dec 14, 2006

Bird said:
Eddie, I've gotten 3 e-mails recently thanking me for my loan application and giving me a link to click on to complete the process. Since I haven't made any loan applications, I don't know how or where they got my e-mail address and I did not click on their links either; just deleted their e-mails.

That one does seem to be popular lately. I've gotten several as well. Some even take a stab at what bank you use and tell you that your account has been frozen until you "click here" and update info. Usually you won't bank with that bank, but if you did, I could see a problem. I got one yesterday telling me that my mortgage payment was late and they would start foreclosure proceedings if I didn't "click here" and update info to allow them to better view my situation or correct anything that is wrong. Hmm, I don't have a mortgage, so I seriously doubt I'm late. I suppose they assume you'll click there and fill in the info and tell them you're not late.

I've been tempted to click some of the links to try to screw with them. However, I assume whoever sends them is far more computer savy than I, and I'd possibly give up info by just clicking the links. So, I just delete them. However, I've never had anyone address me with any personal information like Eddie's email. His sounds odd, perhaps someone who knows him just screwing with him?

Thomas · Dec 14, 2006

Than there are the ones that sell your email address to others...grrrr.

Some stores ask or give you card to fill out for updates etc...now never write my email address...talk about bulk mail over load.

AndyM · Dec 14, 2006

Dargo said:
That one does seem to be popular lately. I've gotten several as well. Some even take a stab at what bank you use and tell you that your account has been frozen until you "click here" and update info. Usually you won't bank with that bank, but if you did, I could see a problem...

I received an email recently that was supposedly from Ohio Savings Bank. Though I don't currently have any accounts there, the email had me second guessing myself, wondering if I had really closed out those accounts.

I'm sure every once in a while, the scammer actually sends the email to someone who actually has an account there.