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Honored Contributor
Posts: 19,366
Registered: ‎03-13-2010

Spam in E-Mails -- Dumb Question

I have a dumb question.  I get a lot of e-mails from companies which I have dealt with or  have shown interest in and I don't mind them at all.  In fact, I enjoy them, or at least most of them.  I have noticed that a lot of the companies that I recognize are no longer appearing in my Promotions section of my e-mail, but are now in the Spam section.  So, I guess I really have 2 questions.  First, are these e-mails for companies going into the Spam section because I have not opened them in a while?  And my second question is - since they are now appearing in the Spam section, is it safe to open them if I recognize the name of the company?  I was always told that if something appeared in the Spam section, definitely do NOT open it!  Thanks for your help! 

"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." - Steve Martin
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 76
Registered: ‎06-10-2015

Re: Spam in E-Mails -- Dumb Question

I never click on anything in an email.  I go directly to the website.  No use taking a chance!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 11,666
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Spam in E-Mails -- Dumb Question

I always check my spam folder.  If there is something there from someone I recognize, I mark it as "not spam" and move it to my inbox.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 25,849
Registered: ‎03-16-2010

Re: Spam in E-Mails -- Dumb Question

[ Edited ]

I get emails from one of my contacts that always go to the Spam folder.  Not a company, an individual.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,042
Registered: ‎05-09-2014

Re: Spam in E-Mails -- Dumb Question

You can open email from any folder. Viewing email on your screen by opening it, even from the Spam folder, does not release or activate any dangers.

 

But if you click on links, photos, attachments, or invitations to learn more/see more/perform a function within the body of the email, you are at much higher risk to infect your computer or give access to it to malicious agents.

 

Do not activate anything in an email you know to be spam or from an unfamiliar sender. Sit on your hands, read the content if you want to, and then delete the message. 

 

Think of it as poison: you can read the label on the container quite safely. But handling it or ingesting it is the danger. 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,301
Registered: ‎06-15-2015

Re: Spam in E-Mails -- Dumb Question

@AngelPuppy1 

 

I have opened many in my spam folder without a problem. Now if it has a link on it? No way I would open it.

 

hckynut  🇺🇸

hckynut(john)
Honored Contributor
Posts: 19,366
Registered: ‎03-13-2010

Re: Spam in E-Mails -- Dumb Question

Thank you for all your replies!  Most of the ones I get in Spam are from well known companies that I have dealt with and that used to appear in my Promotions category.  I just assumed that since I had not dealt with any of these companies or opened these e-mails in a long time that they just defaulted to Spam.  So, thanks again! 

"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." - Steve Martin
Honored Contributor
Posts: 36,676
Registered: ‎03-20-2010

Re: Spam in E-Mails -- Dumb Question


@AngelPuppy1 wrote:

Thank you for all your replies!  Most of the ones I get in Spam are from well known companies that I have dealt with and that used to appear in my Promotions category.  I just assumed that since I had not dealt with any of these companies or opened these e-mails in a long time that they just defaulted to Spam.  So, thanks again! 


 

@AngelPuppy1 

 

I dont know if this was mentioned but be careful even if they APPEAR to be from a company you've done business with.....they might be a spoof email thats not from the real company and is fraudulent and a scam.  Use your mouse and put your curser over the "from" to view the email address to see where the email came from BUT do NOT click that email address, if its not the same one shown on the actual company website its a scam. (on the company website check "contact us" to find their legit email address). 

Animals are reliable, full of love, true in their affections, grateful. Difficult standards for people to live up to.”
Honored Contributor
Posts: 19,366
Registered: ‎03-13-2010

Re: Spam in E-Mails -- Dumb Question

@Spurt 

 

I'm just not going to open them at all.  I don't feel comfortable with it.  If it's a company I know and want to look into, I will just go on to the main site and start all over again!  Thanks!  

"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." - Steve Martin
Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,000
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Spam in E-Mails -- Dumb Question

What I am getting are daily emails that congratulate me for winning something from companies I deal with, like Home Depot, etc.  The first one was right after I bought a book through Ebay and they said I'd won a string trimmer or some such thing I could really use.  Since it was right after the Ebay transaction I let my guard down.  Well, of course it was bogus and now I ignore all those fabulous prizes awarded to me daily.