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Help forum > Gmail > Composing and Sending Messages > Emails were sent to my contacts that I did not send. I want to warn all 1,000 of my contacts. Is that too many?

Emails were sent to my contacts that I did not send. I want to warn all 1,000 of my contacts. Is that too many? Report abuse

sandysmithrealtor
Level 1
10/28/09
Explain your issue in full detail here:

A friend sent me an email that said "Desktop Dating." I do not desktop date but was curious as to why she sent it so I clicked "accept" and filled out my email address and password.  Emails went out to numerous email contacts from my address book.  I am a professional person and many of my clients received this Desktop Dating email, but I'm not sure who, and I don't think they all got it.  In an effort to back track I am trying to send all my contacts an email to tell them that I did not send the email and want them to delete it.  I was on the K through M's in my address book and received a message that I was over limit.  I stopped.  But still want to get an email out but don't want to get locked out of my email account for 24 hours.  I have over 1,000 contacts.  This is my business.  PLEASE HELP!  THIS IS EMBARRASSING!



Please Also Include:
Operating system (e.g. WinXP): 
Program and version you use to access Gmail (e.g. Internet Explorer 7 or Outlook 2003):  
Your antivirus software (e.g. Norton 2007):
Any extensions, toolbars or plug-ins:

Replies: 1 of 8 All replies

bkc56
Level 4
10/28/09
Best answer - sandysmithrealtor (Asker)
While it is embarrassing, I'm more concerned about the successful phishing of your account information and the fact that your account is not compromised.  You need to change your password immediately and also check all of the following stuff (at least):

Account Security:
Settings -> Accounts and Import -> Google Account Settings -> Change Password [pick a new secure password]
Settings -> Accounts and Import -> Google Account Settings -> Change Password Recovery Options [verify secret question, SMS and secondary e-mail address]

Potential Spam:
Settings -> General -> Signature [make sure nothing as been added]
Settings -> General -> Vacation Responder [make sure it's disabled and empty]

E-mail Theft
Settings -> Accounts and Import -> Send Mail As [make sure it is using your correct e-mail address]
Settings -> Filters [no filters that forward or delete e-mail]
Settings -> Forwarding and POP/IMAP -> Forwarding [disabled or correct address]
Settings -> Forwarding and POP/IMAP -> POP Download [disabled]
Settings -> Forwarding and POP/IMAP -> IMAP Access [disabled]
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sandysmithrealtor
Level 1
10/28/09
I just completed your list.
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bkc56
Level 4
10/28/09
Good.  Did you find anything else that the hacker had messed with in your account?

Hopefully you've fully secured your account again.  Be very careful with your login/password in the future.  Many people who loose their account either never get it back, or if they do the hacker has deleted all their e-mail and contacts.  You were very lucky it sounds like.
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sandysmithrealtor
Level 1
10/28/09
I did a very stupid thing.  Besides being embarrassed, the account looks otherwise uncompromised.  Thanks.  So are you saying I should just let the email die off and not worry about sending out a mass email to my contacts to let them know?  I started doing that and couldn't get past the M's.  Says I'm over limit.
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bkc56
Level 4
10/28/09
I understand the embarrassment, and I'd probably want to warn people also (so their accounts don't get hacked also).  You'll just have to do it over a couple days due to the sending limit per day.

You might call some you know better.  A good excuse to say 'hi'.   :-)
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sandysmithrealtor
Level 1
10/28/09
Okay. Thank you very much.
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ediepeg
Level 1
10/29/09
This same thing happened to us too.  I found the suggestions very helpful.  Thanks.  It looked like everything was pretty much in order, except that the POP download was not disabled.  My only other question is whether any of my financial accounts have been compromised, and whether I should pay for things online with my credit card using this email account?
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bkc56
Level 4
10/29/09
No way to tell if any other accounts were compromised.  That would be purely based on what information you had in the e-mails in your account (account numbers, login or passwords, etc).
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