Resolved Junk mail sent to me, from me? How'd that happen??

I use MSN mail as my default e-mail program. It automatically filters out what is suspected to be "junk" mail. (Has a special folder listed as "Junk e-mail "). I periodically check that folder to make sure that it IS actually junk e-mail in there and not something that I might want.

Much to my surprise, there was an e-mail listed from myself in there! (with my actual e-mail address ). There was nothing listed in the subject line and the junk rating was listed as "safe ". So I figured I'd better open the e-mail to see what I had sent myself (not knowing if I had goofed something up somewhere).

But upon opening the e-mail, I realized it was one of those typical medicinal mailings ( "Get-Cialis-And-Viagra-along-with-Hundreds-Of-Other-Meds-At-Very-Low-Prices" ) and also lists a website/link to check. (I didn't click on the link and won't post it here for fear of some violation.) But in the actual opened e-mail, the "To" and "From" addresses are totally spam looking. So how the heck did my e-mail address get put on that!?

For computer protection, I currently use AVG v9.0, Malwarebytes', Spyware Blaster, and occassionally SuperAnti Spyware. I have these all current with the updates and have done scans, but nothing has shown up.

Can anyone explain how this could happen and has the integrity of my computer been compromised somehow??

Hope this isn't a serious issue!

Regards,
Vicki

 

Vicki,

To expand on Steve's answer the sending address of an email is never verified and extremely easy to forge, think of it as writing a return address on the back of an envelope.

Follow your current antimalware precautions but unfortunately it does look like your email address has found it's way onto a spammers list and it will be difficult (if not impossible) for it to be removed.

The best advice I can offer is never ever respond to any future spam (even clicking a link to remove you) in any way. And if possible set your email client to not download external links (these can be used to verify your address is valid).

 

I use G mail and what I did was made a filter to send all mail from "Me" to the Trash box. This way I have less to sift through when checking my spam box. I would think MSN Mail would have something similar.

 

Thanks everyone for your explanations on how this may have happened. I haven't heard from anyone complaining that I've been sending them "junk" mail, so hopefully it only happened to myself! (Thus far, I've only received that one e-mail that was listed as my address).

Hoping that it was just a random thing and not something that will continue for too long!

Thanks again!
Vicki