Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

bogus e-mail

Jul 13, 2004 6:45AM PDT

Sunday I received an email that claimed to be from the FBI stating that they were concerned about major criminals on our street riding 4-wheelers, causing vandalism to mailboxes and cars and a lot of other things that I know are not happening on our street. Some of our neighbors did ride w-wheelers but the police informed us it was illegal in the neighborhood. To make a very long story short, we believe the email was sent by a crazy neighbor. I contacted the FBI and they said they didn't send the email and wanted me to forward the email. The address was from a Yahoo account. It didn't even look real. No name or phone number to call either. My question is there a way to figure out who had the bogus FBI email account with Yahoo? I did email Yahoo about the email. Is that all I can do. Should I leave it up to the FBI? WE are tired of this neighbor harrasing us this way. Thanks for any advice.
Elizabeth

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
That's a good one.
Jul 13, 2004 6:54AM PDT

SPAM of all types and with the ability to make any email appear to be from any return address means you should NEVER OPEN ANY EMAIL YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING.

To even read such an email is inviting trouble.

Just toss it.

Bob

- Collapse -
Re: tossing it
Jul 13, 2004 8:32AM PDT

Tossing it is the most expeditious thing to do, but it doesn't do anything to help stem the tide of these sort of intrusions and bogus emails.

Since this sender wants to pretend he is the "FBI" then I think "arokmom" has the right idea, to get the authorities involved.

Anybody who wants to go under the guise of authority ought to experience just what authority really is.

It is the same sort of people who would think nothing of carrying around an unearned badge and start flashing it around to scare, or demean, others into doing something that JohnQ or JaneQ would never do otherwise.

It is against the law there, so let's get these criminals (yet to be determined when such laws get passed) who send such emails too!

Let's hang 'em!