Receiving an automated email from “mailer-daemon@googlemail.com” about failure delivery of email, even though I never sent any. Why is it happening?
Some months ago, I started to receive some emails from the "Mail Delivery Subsystem" (mailer-daemon@googlemail.com). Despite this is an "automatic" failure email, I thought these emails were spam, so I just ignored. But these emails has increased and started to disturbme.
These emails are sent from mailer-daemon@googlemail.com (there is a icon that indicates a reply email) and says that "MYEMAIL@aol.com couldn't be found". "MYEMAIL" is the email that is receiving these messages, but with domain "aol.com" (I don't have any email from this domain).
In these emails, there is always a attached file about something attractive, like diets and wines. I think the most curious detail is that I was receiving these emails but in a "normal way". Before receiving from mailer-daemon@googlemail.com, I was receiving like normal spam, even with the same subject, and at some point this has changed to mailer-daemon. Another detail is despite these emails always have a attached file, I can't see the attached file icon's until I open the email. Only then, when I close the email, I can see the attached file icon's. Obviously I never downloaded these files
I already changed password, checked login's entries and everything seems to be normal. I can just block emails from mailer-daemon@googlemail.com, but I'm concerned about why this is happening.
I have faced the same too, but with another provider. In my case, someone was able to obtain my e-mail address, but not my password. Then, my e-mail address was used as the "reply-to" or the "sent-from" address on a spam e-mail. It is annoying, but your e-mail itself is probably safe. (TFA helps).
Example for clarity:
Through whatever means, I notice that a valid e-mail address is Mycroft@googlemail.com.
Now, I can authenticate to another mail server, say postoffice.com. I can then use a sendmail program that does something like this:
to: JoeBloggs@aol.com
from: Mycroft@googlemail.com
Subject: Best Diet Program Ever!!
Body: blah, blah, blah.
For more info, click here!
EOT
You will then get the message from mailer-daemon@googlemail.com, and I have not compromised your e-mail, but I have compromised your email ADDRESS.
What to do when you receive mail from mailer-daemon@googlemail.com
- Scan your computer and devices for malware.
- Report the mailer-daemon spam as junk mail
- Tell your contacts