Warning about GPT "Private Message" email

[acybersleuth]

I feel this is some sort of hack/scam/phish attempt, and that is needs to be brought to the attention of GPT Boycott.

See below a copy of the "Private Message" email that I received this week from "support@GPT Boycott.com": (also, when I tried to login to GPT Boycott's web site via the regular way, a popup appeared with the same "Private Message" and I was not able to login that way. I was finally able to login by going thru PM on the forum itself).

Thanks, acybersleuth
************************************************** ********

New Private Message at GPTBoycott Discussion Forum‏
From: GPTBoycott Discussion Forum (support@gptboycott.com)
You may not know this sender.Mark as safe|Mark as junk
Sent: Mon 2/15/10 8:20 PM
To:

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL!*************************** Dear acybersleuth, You have received a new private message at GPTBoycott Discussion Forum from AdminModerator, entitled "Warning! Next time we will have to complaint to your ISP.". To read the original version, respond to, or delete this message, you must log in here:http://www.gptboycott.com/forum/private.php This is the message that was sent:***************Dear, Beactethy;casanova81;acybersleuth;rechard11;onemor e! A virus alert was noticed on your computer. We highly recommend you to check your computer and perform online virus check at our site immediately: http://security-tool2010.org/Beactethy;casanova81;acybersleuth;rechard11;onemor eIf you do not pass this test we will have to delete your account and forward a complaint to your ISP with attached log file (your IP address, etc.).----------------------------------------------------Forum Administration www.gptboycott.com.*************** Again, please do not reply to this email. You must go to the following page to reply to this private message:http://www.gptboycott.com/forum/private.php All the best,GPTBoycott Discussion Forum

[acybersleuth]

excuse me, the title of my post should say:
"Warning about GPT Boycott "Private Message" Email

[pietro]

Please read the posting here (http://gptboycott.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24610). We've had some spammers lately and are doing our best to take care of the situation. There is a second topic already active here. (http://gptboycott.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24686)

[jennteel]

Thanks for looking into this matter.

[acybersleuth]

Thanks for the update!

One thing, though, I did NOT receive this message in my GPT Boycott inbox, I received it as an incoming message at my regular email address.

And when I first logged in to my account at GPT Boycott yesterday, the same "warning, PM message, etc." came up in a popup.

[acybersleuth]

Also please note, my regular email address should NOT be visible or available to just anyone on the GPT Boycott site; when I registered on this site, I requested that it NOT be public information.

So the fact that I received this email at my personal email address in the first place concerns me.

Plus, the date of the site registration/joining listed for me currently (Jan 2010)
is not correct; I have been a member for years. Also I did not even visit the GPT Boycott site in January, much less "newly register" then.

To me, all this suggests something more than a simple "spamming" might be going on.

[pietro]

When you receive an IM here it is automatically forwarded to your registered e-mail address. It's a function of the forum not because someone got your e-mail from this forum. We do not give out e-mails to anyone. I will look to see if there is an option to turn off this function but rest assured no one gets your e-mail from us and unless you respond to the email from your own, the spammer will not have it.

[acybersleuth]

Ok, that's a relief!!!

Thank you for the reassurance!

[pietro]

Also your profile shows you joined the forum on January 10, 2010. I don't know why your profile would have changed when it does not appear anyone else's has. I'll try to look for a reason but it may take some time.

[pietro]

Okay found the way to turn off the e-mails. If you click on User CP in the upper left of the screen and then choose Edit Options you will see:

The forum can send a message to your email address to inform you when someone sends you a private message.

Receive Email Notification of New Private Messages will have a check box in front of it.

The box is checked by default but you can turn it off by unchecking the box.

[acybersleuth]

I don't know that the incorrect "join date" is important, or even related to the spamming issue; I just noticed the discrepancy and thought it odd.

[acybersleuth]

Ok, thanks; I really appreciate all your help!!!

[acybersleuth]

Ok, I edited the options.

and guess what? There was a copy of the spamming message right there in the "unread PM messages"; so I opened it and deleted it.

Thanks again!

[proudmama0106]

A thank you to the MODS for taking care of the spamming issue no just in the PM's but as well as on the forum its self, that was getting a little over whelming :) Great job guys!

~ proudmama