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Client support emails are intercepted

Someone responded to a client asking for passwords

         

masterwebman

8:45 pm on Sep 25, 2011 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



A client sent me an email which was forwarded from my email account to my gmail account. She was unable to log into her webmail account. She received an email back from someone posing as me, from my gmail account (maybe forged) telling her he would be on it. Then in a follow up email he asked for passwords. His attitude showed annoyance - She then gave him a couple of possible passwords including her paypal password. I changed her webmail password, my gmail password and had her change her paypal password.

What I don't understand is how could someone intercept an email being sent to me? All I can think of is she might have a virus or some malware which forwards all her outgoing email to the hacker? Does anyone know of such malware? Then, the hacker could forge my email address and she believes it's me. Or could there be another scenario where the hacker is getting copies of my gmail to which he responds? I can't see anything in my gmail account which would copy mail to anyone else other than me.

This has me stumped. My client felt it was creepy. Any suggestions or has anyone seen anything like this?
thanks,

enigma1

4:19 pm on Oct 1, 2011 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Does anyone know of such malware?

There are plenty. Typically the browser or the system is hijacked and then anything goes. Running flash/js without restrictions, not having the latest O/S or browser updates, running applications without checking, having the router's wifi with its defaults etc. I hope you get the picture.

If your client knows how to extract the mail headers then ask him to sent them to you. Because if the headers show they indeed originated from your email account it means your system or accounts are compromised.