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Master Baiter Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 101

Hi everyone! I recently received an email from a chap who had my real name in the beginning of the email. I have a gmail account and did not list any of my real names or information while setting the account up, except for my cell number because, I had to list it so, gmail could send me a text message with my confirmation code on it. I recently deleted the Cell Number though. However, the Cell number would not matter because, it is in my husband's name, not mine. I cannot figure out how they got my Real First Name. Maybe, it is one of them who has recently emailed me and keeping up with my info from MySpace!!!! PUZZLED

Not quite a Newb Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 41

Hi.
Unless you have a really uncommon name like Moon Unit you can probably chalk it up to coincidence.

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:25 pm

Oh yea.. I've seen my uncle's name, cousin's, boss's, etc (Last name first, of course!)... I think the lads simply pick names out of a hat from the lad starter kit..

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:23 am

Probably the same as routine spammers who address emails "Attn: Larry" or the like. They probably figure if they send 10,000 of them, at least half a dozen will actually hit someone with that name.

Now if it had your full first AND LAST names, that would be something else...

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 4:04 am

Ever bought anything online? Ever filled out a survey and supplied your email address? Ever signed up for a newsletter? Entered an online contest?

If so, chances are your name and email have probably appeared on at least one marketing list. Some scammers buy these lists so they can spam you.

And you mentioned MySpace... do you have your email address posted there? Tried Googling for your email address to see if it turns up somewhere? Sometimes you would be surprised how many places your name and email turn up. Some not-so-big-spender lads just randomly troll the internet by hand for email addresses and harvest them the hard way.

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:06 pm

I pick up scam mails in one account (male) and I often pass them into another (female) to reply. Sometimes they have my name off the guestbook in the first mail and I reply as a female in my reply back to them. They don`t notice or care.

However I would google the nick you bait with to check there aren`t any links back to you, just for complete peace of mind. The mods or chan owner will probably not mind if you ask to change nick if it`s a security issue for you.

Risk is low - but no risk is better.

Master Baiter Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 101

Thanks for all the replies! Yeah, if you knew my real first name you would know that they had to get it from one of my old accounts. My real first name is a female name and it is very rare. My gmail account is the one I found it in and I have no real info on my gmail account. My gmail account has a male name on it and he addressed me as being a female because, of my real name being used in that email. The email I received from this lad also had part of my last name on it, just the first 5 letters. so, I think he is following me. Confused

Don't understand how he is doing it though, very confusing. I reread this and it is sooo confusing to read, Laughing

Hope it makes enough sense to you guys!

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 7:08 pm

@AZ: I've gotten what appears to be "psychic spam" before too. In one case the title was a phoenetic variation of my best friend's online nick. It's kinda creepy, like the spam knows too much about you, but unless it reads like it was specifically targeted at you, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

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