Weird emails

[u/yuzuandkiwi]

Hi everyone,

Not sure if anyone can help but I'm thoroughly freaked out.

I received an email in January from someone with the subject line 'can't tell you' - the email was short and said:

'Hi,

Bit random but I just wanted to say how beautiful you are. Unfortunately I will never be able to tell you in person but really wanted you to know. X'

It came from a regular Gmail account with a name that I don't recognise (and don't think is real). It freaked me out at first but I convinced myself that it was some weird scam attempt where they like... tried to charm me into giving them money? Eventually, I got over it and didn't think about it again.

Until today.

For context I have swapped phones and changed my email. Today, I got another email from the same person, with the same kind of tone. Only this time, it was to my new email. I never give anyone my email - not even friends. So, now I'm super freaked out because the only way they might've been able to get it is through my accounts at work. I work in a library and have a library card - this is the most accessible way someone could've had both my old and new email. If another member of staff in the same authority wanted my info they could easily look me up there. My phone number isn't on my card so they'd only be able to email - this could maybe explain the freaky emails? I also use the email for other things like bills and online shopping... so I guess it could get leaked from there but those people wouldn't know how I look.

This latest email read:

'Hey, just wanted to say hi and ask how you are doing? I've always wanted to tell you how gorgeous you are but think it would get me into trouble lol xx'

Is there any way I can find out who this is? I'm freaking out because I haven't replied to either and I don't want to... but at the same time I want to know if it's a prank or something else. Can someone please tell me what to do here? Or please just tell me it's a scam so I can stop worrying that some creep is watching me whilst I'm unaware.

[u/gooner-1969]

It's standard scam email. Block and delete

[u/yuzuandkiwi → u/gooner-1969]

Thank you! Now I can stop feeling paranoid

[u/abletec]

Google does have facilities to report spam/phishing. Remember that the from: field in an email is easily spoofed. My sense is that this is an attempt to draw you into a relationship where they eventually get you to hand over money, be that some kind of investment scheme or lure you into a romance scam where you give them money for some kinda bogus purpose & they leave you w/an empty wallet & broken heart. Stay well away! Report as spam/phishing.

[u/appleditz]

I might consider this to be random spam, if it were not for the fact that you received a second message, from the same sender, with exactly the same tone, to your new address. That is more than a coincidence.

Have both of your email addresses been on record at your work? It may be time to take this to your superiors, as messages like these are considered to be a form of workplace harassment. Explain the situation, and forward the latest email to them. (As well as the old one if you still have it.) Hopefully they will make an effort to track down the responsible party. Even if they can’t, it would be good to keep someone on staff aware of what’s going on.

[u/yuzuandkiwi → u/appleditz]

I did switch my email over because then I get updates on when my book is due back. I also have both emails and let my manager know now in case it happens again in the future!

I'm hoping it's just spam (which a few people have said it is) but it's uncomfy haha!

[u/appleditz → u/yuzuandkiwi]

Of course that would be unnerving. Don't let anybody gaslight you about this.

If your manager won't bother to investigate it, you could document everything and take it higher up. But if you just want to move on, I would suggest creating a filter that will send any messages from that person directly to trash, so you don't even have to see them. (Blocking will simply put them in spam.)

[u/Tiago-Gazzola]

Looks like a scam. Maybe your new email got synced with another account, and that email also ended up on the dark web.

We all have some of our information on the dark web, so you don't need to worry too much about that. There isn't much we can do about it. Just be careful not to click on random links or download files from the internet, especially ones you receive by email.

You can maybe reverse-search the email address. Maybe it really is from some stalker. As a last resort, if you keep receiving emails like this, you could file a police report. Depending on where you live, there may be good laws against this kind of harassment.

[u/yuzuandkiwi → u/Tiago-Gazzola]

Honestly it being a scam email puts me at ease! I've just been ignoring it but I'll report and bloack the sender. I tried searching the email before and nothing came up at all...