virus in my email app?

I use Mac Mail, but I also have a Gmail account. I just signed in and checked it, and there are several spam emails with the subject: 4 pictures for you from (first name)(last name). They're all from people I know, some are in my contacts, some not.


I've never opened one of these messages. Though it shows a familiar name as sender, when I click on the sender it's another address in the detailed view.


I can't figure out if it's the "senders" or if I have a problem on my end with my contacts (I never let FB or any other app have access to my contacts)?? Thanks in advance.

Mac mini (M1, 2020)

Posted on Sep 19, 2023 10:28 AM

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Posted on Sep 20, 2023 8:25 AM

Most likely, someone (or multiple someones) you know had their email accounts hacked and the spammer is using the information to send out spam assuming that you will be more likely to look at it if it appears to have come from someone you know. All you can do is let your contacts know their email might have been hacked.


Simply getting spam will not harm you as long as you don't respond to it.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 20, 2023 8:25 AM in response to Randy Gerdes

Most likely, someone (or multiple someones) you know had their email accounts hacked and the spammer is using the information to send out spam assuming that you will be more likely to look at it if it appears to have come from someone you know. All you can do is let your contacts know their email might have been hacked.


Simply getting spam will not harm you as long as you don't respond to it.

Sep 20, 2023 1:02 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

So one of the emails I got was from an elderly brother-in-law, whom I talked into moving over to Mac some years back, and now I'm his default Mac guru (not saying I'm good at it!). He's pretty tightly wound (he cleans his inbox to zero daily, and shuts down his Mac every night...I did talk him out of shutting it down). I want to let him know he's likely been hacked, but would like to offer a solution. Any ideas are appreciated.

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virus in my email app?

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