MNHQ Can you help with this?

[BlackCatinaWoollyhat]

Just wondered if someone could somehow get hold of my email address just by me going on Mumsnet without me telling them via a PM?

I am asking because I was sent an email about an online bank account I don't have.

But how do they get your email address?

Unless you post or message your email address no-one will see it.

The fake bank email is just standard spam which most people get - usually your spam filters will stop you from ever seeing them but sometimes one will slip through. Delete and don't worry about it. It has nothing to do with MN.

As Reality said, we all get spam emails at some stage.

It was suggesting unusual activity on an account I don't have! I am worried about it!

How they get your email address - random number/letter generators which will usually fail but occasionally become an actual email address? I don't know, actually - have often wondered. But they're crafty buggers.

Black

Sometimes they randomly guess email addresses (this one a lot of the time)

Sometimes they set up fake websites and get people to enter their email addresses (and other stuff like credit cards).

Sometimes they will have hacked into your friends email and got you from their contacts list.

Sometimes they will get your email address from a website they have hacked into.

Please don't click on any link in the email.

Really - it's standard spam. I get lots of these - mostly apparently from HSBC (where I don't bank). Ignore, and then relax.

DO you think it's a trick cause they said click here to confirm details, of course I didn't though.
Do you get spam that says that?

I get it all the time, do not respond, nothing to do with MNHQ. Standard fishing sadly.

Why would you be worried about activity on an account you dont have?

Who ever sent the email wants your bank details. I'm presuming you didn't send them.

Why on earth do you think this is linked to MN?

Yes, they all say click here to confirm details.

Black as other posters have said this is general spam... Do not click on any links in the spam email, if you do you are essentially confirming that the email address exists and you will get lots more spam. I get these from 'Natwest' all the time, I do not bank with Natwest.

They are not even that bright, as I bank with NW but all the spam is from elsewhere.

Sorry I am new to internet this year so it's all a bit new and worrying. you hear so many stories of people having their identities nicked. I am sat hear in tears.

I have had my identity knicjed and it wasn't through this, please don't worry.

These sort of phishing emails are really common. Never, never, ever click on a link in an email purporting to be from a bank, even if (especially if) you do bank with them. A bank would never ask you to confirm details from an email.

If you are at all concerned about your account then use a new browsing window to go directly to the banks page and log in in your usual way. If there are any problems with your account they should be highlighted to you there.

Stop worrying!

Such emails are known as "Phishing".

You will get them from time to time.

IGNORE THEM! Even if they are from your own bank account.

And also ignore any email telling you that you have inherited a huge sum of money.
Just out of interest..how old are you?

This one said it was from Natwest.
Thanks everyone, I was really worried.

We've all had them at some point.
I've had them from HSBC, Natwest, Barclays etc

I've even had the FBI one, Fed-ex, Army Sgt needing money blah blah blah.

If you are really worried, google the banks phishing email and forward it to them.

That should have read;

IGNORE THEM! Even if they are from your own bank.

Don't cry! :( It's not that serious, please don't worry about this. If you get any in the future, just delete them without reading.

You do need to be fairly aware because sometimes they can be pretty convincing. The ones I've had which are supposedly from Paypal are convincing. The basic rule is that real websites will never ask you for your password or any personal details via email. Always ignore stuff unless it's from a company you actually use online (so for example if you got an email from your bank, but you don't use online banking, delete that) and as rushofbangers says, if you DO get one from a company you use, open a new window and go to the website directly. If anything is wrong it will tell you there. If everything seems normal when you log in with nothing flagged up on your account, then just delete the email.

If you're really worried about one you can always ask someone else to have a look for you, a tech-savvy friend or relative or even just in the MN chat section.

Hello BlackCatinaWoollyHat. Sorry to hear you've had such a shock.

The other posters are right, we're sure. We've all been phished at some point or other.

Just to reassure you, though: we'd never disclose your email address to anyone else, unless you gave us your permission first.

Thanks so much everyone. It's all a bit scary(The internet) when you are new to it, a bit like anything in life I suppose!