"British Gas Bill"

[brainiac]

Just had an email to my Hotmail address from "British Gas" about "your outstanding bill". I have not opened it, but if I hover over it, it says it comes from my Hotmail address - the same one! How can that be, especially as I do not have any account with British Gas?

[bhg481]

The word "spam" springs to mind.

[aelmpvw]

wish i'd got a tenner for every email i receive relating to an account that i do not have ...

[brainiac]

Yes, I know it's spam, but it was sent from my email address

[fiction-factory]

I doubt it actually came from your address even though it appears to have done so. If you reply to it I doubt the reply will go to your inbox

[Gizmonster]

Spammers can make an email appear to come from any email address that they want:

https://askleo.com/from_spoofing_how_spammers_send_email_that_looks_like_it_came_from_you/

[brainiac]

Thanks, Giz