100's of "mail delivery failed" messages clogging up my email. Help!

[allmytimeonmumsnet]

Today I have downloaded and deleted over 1800 "mail delivery failed" messages on my email. It is driving me mad but I'm not sure what to do. They are all addressed to an email on a domain name I have which does not exist (all different ones). So they are not actually coming from me. I think this is called ghosting?

Anyway I have space on a server with a company hosting the domain so I'm meant to handle it all myself and I control the settings. I've looked through their help files but got nowhere. I have tried emailing them and they are usually pretty good but I've only managed to download one "real" email today as the system is clogged up with the others.

Does anyone know about this sort of thing. Is there someway I can stop it happening or at least stop people pretending to use my emial address. I've totally wasted my day, I can't use my email properly and I'm worried that other people will be betting stuff supposedly from me and blame me (although thats not happened so far). Anyone with knowledge of this area that can give me some advice? - even if its only what to search for in the companies knowledge base/ help files.

Sounds like spyware/adware to me, download a anti spyware program. Someone who knows more shall be along soon I'm sure.

But its not using email addresses in my contacts book. These are bouncing from emails I've never come across using made up emails with my domain name on the end!

I get the same. Was told that they are basically spam. I thought it was a virus and my machine was sending out millions of random mails but I'm told that someone, somewhere has got hold of my email and is using it to send all manner of rubbish to others.
I use spybot and spyware detctor but don't seem to make any difference.
Don't click on any links either, it may be trying to get a virus onto your machine.
Don't know how to cure it but if mine get much worse I'm going to have to change my email.

Have downloaded it. Thank you.

I don't actually think this problem is due to spyware etc. Its more of a scumbag messing with email problem. I got the following advice from a friend. I have tried to get rid of the "anything" bit but the emails are still coming. However most seemt to be sent on the 8th so I'm hoping eventually they will run out. Otherwise I will have to start with a new email address.

"I'm guessing that a spammer has spoofed their domain as the sender address on the spam they are sending out so they don't have to deal with the bouncebacks.

It's quite common at the moment and we get a few customer complaining about this.

Unfortunately, as they aren't the source mailserver of the actual email the spammer is initially sending, they can't stop it going out and therefore prevent themselves having to deal with the bounces.

However, I reckon in her case she's got a catchall mailbox that accepts @domainname.com so if she only sets up defined aliases on this domain instead of accepting anything this would cut down on the number of bounces she's getting as the spammer is probably just guessing which addresses at domainname.com to use when sending the spam out."

Thought this might help someone. []