The way email works basically anybody can set up a server and send email as somebody else.
There is two things that show up in an email, the "name" and the email address.
One can set the name to be anything and its the name that most email apps show prominently. For example gmail shows the "name" in the list of emails. If you click on an email the email address is in smaller font in brackets to the right of the "name".
So unless these email are shown as coming from doug's email address, its not an indication he has been hacked.
Actually its the receiver of the email that the "hacker" has found out the "names" of email's he receives.
All in all, check the email address to be sure its from who you think.
If its not, mark as spam.
If you actually receive an email from someone's email address and they say they didn't send it, that is more concerning.
One IT guys opinion for what its worth.
- Joe.
Thanks Joe. I appreciate the feedback and agree that verifying the email of the sender is key with all the spam we get these days. I wish I know how they got everyone’s email. My personal friends didn’t get it, only racing friends..
Hi Doug, M2C also an IT nerd. Bots work 24/7 scanning public websites for name@address.* If anyone has laid down an email address on this site they are vulnerable to phishing. In addition bots can scan for key words such as president, election, and treasure also become targets for phishing expeditions. In short not a lot can be done on a public forum like this. People can use reasonable judgment of course when receiving email.
This is happening to AMA clubs as well. Treasurers and sometimes other officers are getting fake emails trying to get the Treasurer to send money to make a payment.