Getting emails from yourself is just spoof used by these folks. They have no idea where you are but have the email set with a code to seek and insert your address in the 'from' box.

When you are on the internet do you leave your email address anywhere? Most users have a throw away address from Yahoo, Hotmail or other source. Then when you sign onto places like this site you use that address, keeping your main address for family and trusted friends.

Do you open these emails? If so many have a small piece of code sent back to the sender alerting them to a real address. This is promptly added to a list and sold to other spammers. Remove the preview pane as that too is actually opening the email. NEVER reply to Spam.

So that's how they do it!

How do I remove the preview window?

And thanks for your help.

To remove the preview pane open Outlook Express, click View at the top, click Layout in the drop down and remove the check mark beside 'Show preview pane'. Done.

Thank You.

I was getting e-mail like this also...I assume it is a Viagra ad. Pooh Bear told me to set message rules in my e-mail folder to block anything with the word Viagra in it and that stopped it on my computer...I'm using Outlook Express, but Windows Mail probably has a place where you can set message rules also....

Timely question as this is happening to me! My anti-spam is catching these, but as others have indicated, it's somewhat a pain to have to constantly delete them all. So I was intrigued by the comment by maybee regarding setting up message rules as a way to keep these from coming to your computer in the first place. Specifically, how does that work? Do you select the action that says "do not download from server" or "delete from server" or something else?? TIA

Mike I am not sure setting up rules does much except offer peace of mind in the sort term. Spam is very invasive and the simplest way to control it is to safeguard your email address and delete all spam without opening any of it. Never show your email address where it can be seen by all and sundry, never open or reply to Spam, not even to be removed from the list because that simply tells them they have found a valid address to bug. If you are curious about a sender you can go in the back door as see what is written and who sent it. To see this
right click on the email header in your inbox
click Properties
click Details
click Message source.
Now take this to full screen and look carefully, you will see the sender, the content message if there is one and rows and rows if seemingly gibberish. This gibberish is actually a picture usually. Be sure to do this is you get a returned email, it may not be returned but another spam ploy.

I have provided a link below that might answer a few questions, it is Canadian but I suspect our issues are no different to yours.

Here is a link that might be useful: Stopping Spam tips

owbist: Many thanks for your super advice!

One minor clarification: Would you please expand on your comment "Be sure to do this is you get returned email, it may not be returned but another spam ploy." There might be a misspelled word there, but even so, I think I'm missing your point. Thanks again!

I was getting e-mail from my own computer and therefore couldn't block the sender..I think that is what is happening with magic...here is the answer Pooh gave me.

Setup a mail rule so that:
If the subject line contains: Viagra
Delete it from the server.

Ha ha, sorry Mike, I gotta learn to speak proper like, I do believe I am a bit dyslexic bordering on stupid at times.

What I meant was if you receive an email that looks like it is returned to sender be very cautious. The spammers use this tactic to catch you out so by viewing via the back door you remain protected. Once you have inspected it you can elect to open normally or delete depending on your findings.

Maybee, Pooh gave you good advice but it is something I never use as I feel you can be creating these rules forever with the spammers catching on and changing the terminology.

A few months ago I was getting 3 to 15 spams daily, now I am down to perhaps 3 a week. Not sure that is any skills on my part but I do watch very closely what gets opened and what gets deleted. And yes, I get those emails with literally dozens of addresses at the top where lazy folks forward without cleaning up.

:o) That's the only was I was getting and that took care of the problem completely (so far at least)..and I've now taken the advice you give above and have a throw-away e-mail address I use if I have to give one out...

Owbist:

I always keep my preview pane open so I can view a message without "opening" it, thus knowing what it says beforehand, and allowing me to open and reply when I'm ready.

Why is this open pane considered an open email?

So far, I haven't been getting junk like those above (touch wood).

Thanks.

Debi we each find our comfort/safety level with these computers. I always liked the ability to view the message in the preview pane too but as my spam increased I looked for answers. Have I found the cure? I doubt that very much but getting only about 3 spams a week compared to before makes me very happy.

For me to have the preview pane removed now offers no big deal. The first task is to look down the list of new arrivals and delete suspicious emails. Then I simply double click on the last unread header and as I read my messages I use the up arrow at the top of the screen. I start at the bottom in case any emails arrive as I read and I open a suspicious message, I am set to look for new messages every 5 minutes.

I am a big believer that if your set up works for you then stay with it until you prove it to be unwise. Computers offer a myriad of choices and none are completely right or necessarily wrong, they reflect the owners preferences.