How do scammers find new email addresses to send spam?

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Asked By SillyPineapple92 On

I've noticed that newly created email accounts at my company often receive impersonation emails from supposed bosses just days after being set up. I'm curious about the tactics scammers use to discover these new addresses. Could it be that users sign up for shady services with their new email? Or maybe they get included in large email chains that get harvested by scammers? What are the possibilities?

5 Answers

Answered By CautiousProducer On

I think LinkedIn definitely plays a role, but also, if you’re using a predictable email format, it’s easy to guess. People just send emails to likely addresses without any real verification. Keeping your email private helps a ton!

EmailInterceptor -

Yeah, I think the key is how you manage your online presence. Avoiding sites where your email can be shared makes a difference.

Answered By NewbieInTech On

So true! I’ve seen companies that list every new hire on their website, which leads to phishing attempts like the classic 'I need gift cards from the CEO' scam. It's baffling how many people fall for it.

StressedAdmin -

Putting email addresses on a website is inviting spam. We try to avoid that whenever possible.

Answered By CuriousCat123 On

There are a lot of ways scammers snag those new email addresses! A common tactic is scraping LinkedIn—if your name pops up as a new hire, they can easily guess your email format and start sending spam. Also, once your details hit a company website, they become easy targets for phishing.

MarkTheShark -

LinkedIn really does suck for privacy. I've had the same experience, too. It's like a magnet for spammers!

TechGuru88 -

Totally! Just the other day, a new colleague of mine got a scam email within two days of starting, right after updating their LinkedIn. It seems like they’re always watching.

Answered By SpammerBuster On

Scammers have plenty of tricks up their sleeves. They often use data brokers—anyone can buy emails, and many companies sell them without consent. LinkedIn and scraping corporate web pages are two of the biggest sources for these scams.

InfoWiz89 -

It's like a never-ending cycle. The minute you put your email out there, it’s fair game for these spammers.

Answered By DataDude211 On

For sure, LinkedIn is a major culprit! Another way is through services like ZoomInfo. They collect email addresses and charge for access, so if scammers buy that data, your company’s emails could easily end up in their hands. Plus, if someone leaks data from their email list, those addresses can get out there too.

OldSchoolAdmin -

Exactly! I've noticed spam targeting ex-employees in our mailing list. It’s annoying how these services keep selling former employee info.

TechieTom -

I use an app to delete my data from these companies, and it actually cuts down on my spam significantly!

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