I receive spam emails from my own email address

You may be receiving unwanted spam emails that appear to be from your own email address.

While it's possible your account has been compromised, it's more likely that you are being "spoofed." In other words, the email is most likely coming from a source outside of AOL that is spoofing the "From" address. Automated bots are often used by spammers to fill in the From: address with the To: address, making it look like you have sent the email to yourself.

Follow the instructions given in this article to resolve this issue.

Solutions

• Report the email as spam
• Change your password
• Delete your email address from your Address Book
• Scan Your Computer For Virus and Spyware

Report the email as spam

When you receive an email that you consider spam, you should immediately click the Report Spam button. This helps to ensure that future email from this source will go to your spam folder. Rest assured that by reporting the email as spam you are not blocking or reporting yourself! You are helping us identify the source of the spoof email.

Change your password

If you suspect unauthorized use of your account, immediately check your Sent folder for any emails that were sent without your consent. If you see any unexpected messages, immediately change your password. These will lockout the unauthorized user and re-secure your account.

Delete your email address from your Address Book

Deleting your email address from your Address Book will help resolve this issue.

Note: Please check your address book regularly to ensure your email address is deleted from your address book. This will help reduce this problem.

To delete your email address from your Address Book:

2. In the Find Contacts box (next to Print button), type your email address.

3. Click the box next to your name, to place a check mark in it, and then click Delete.

Scan Your Computer For Virus and Spyware

Scanning your computer for viruses and spywares using AOL Virus Scan protection and AOL McAfee Internet Security Suite may solve the issue. Please ensure that the AOL software is closed before you perform the steps below.

To scan for viruses:

1.On the Windows taskbar next to the clock, right click the McAfee ( M) icon, and then click Scan.

2. Under Options, click the Scan Now button.

The Options pane has different options and their descriptions are:

• Scan all files - Thoroughly scan all file types. Click the Scan all files box to clear it, if you wish to shorten the scanning time. This will ensure that only program files and documents get scanned.
• Scan for unknown viruses using heuristics - Scan for new, potential viruses. It uses advanced techniques that try to match files to the signatures of known viruses. You can also be assured of a thorough scan. However, it does take more time than a normal scan.
• Scan .zip and other archive files - Ensures that .zip and other compressed files are scanned. Sometimes virus authors plant viruses in a .zip file. This .zip file is in turn planted into another .zip file to bypass anti-virus scanners. Select this option to ensure that these viruses are not overlooked.
• Scan for spyware and potentially unwanted programs - The software detects spyware, adware, dialers, and other potentially unwanted application. By default, this option is enabled for maximum protection.
• Scan and remove tracking cookies - Cookies are blocks of text placed in a file on your computer. websites use cookies to identify users on subsequent visits for managing subscriptions, customizing preferences, and tracking interests.
• Scan for rootkits and other stealth programs - Rootkits are programs that alter existing Microsoft Windows system files to escape detection. They can include spyware and other stealth programs that might create additional security or privacy to your computer data and McAfee information.

3. When the scan is complete, a pop-up window will display the details of the scan. To see the scan results of any suspicious files, click View Results.

Note: If the View Results window does not show up, then the computer is virus free.

4. Click the Finish button.

AOL now offers Virus Removal services for as low as $39.99 (or it may be included in your existing plan - click here to see if you're eligible). Call 1-855-288-1686 and let one of our expert technicians access your computer from a remote location to identify and remove viruses or malware.