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+--- Thread: I replied to a spam email asking for my details? (/thread-131247.html)
I replied to a spam email asking for my details? - Luke - 04-08-2014 07:17 PM
Right long sotry short, this happened about a year ago and I only just remembered it but now after reading several websites I'm really worried. I recieved a message from someone saying they were my long lost lover so I replied saying they must have the wrong email, they kept replying backa nd said they had millions of dollars but they needed my credit card details and address to get to it, I messaged them back saying to leave me alone and they stopped; I didn't give away any details in my messages back but I searched on the internet a bit and apparently if you reply to a spammer they can trace your address and steal your identity so I'm really worried, is this true, should I be concerned?
This was on my emails BTW
- Jazzy - 04-08-2014 07:27 PM
The only way they can get your address from an email or anything else on the internet is by getting your IP address, by geo-locating your IP address they can get where your internet connection is and they can use that to find out where you were. But it isn't very easy to get the IP. most websites block any ways to get it
- Depp fan - 04-08-2014 07:35 PM
As long as you did not give them any information, you should be fine. That said, always check your credit card statement and your bank transactions regularly as a hacker can get your information in dozens of ways. As long as you are on top of it, the banks and credit card companies will work with you to restore your money.
- Dark Lady - 04-08-2014 07:43 PM
JAzzy is only part right, geo tracing is just one way to get your information. Another way is to actually look up your email address, once you replied, confirming it was accurate and valid, vis a cite like Email Finder, and paying them the fee to get the full back ground, which includes name, address, phone and sometimes eve SSN along with criminal, driving records etc, in their report. Most of these scammers will not go that far though, as what they are after is your bank account. They want you to give them the CC number OR routing number/account number for your bank to be able to steal your money. If you refuse to give them the info, 9 out of 10 they move on to the next person on their list and forget about you, hoping you do not report them to the authorities via the FBI or other agency that would contact their government in their country (most of them are international scams) and also hoping the next person falls for it. Also,the ones after you identity would show up via your credit report with in 6 months, just go to FreeCreditReport.com get your free copy and check for errors, that will take care of that. Good luck!