Sample message: Hacked

These are example emails you could use for a member who has been hacked or is sending spam:

Default message used by caretaker groups for 'approved' spam messages

Hello Freegle Member,

We have received an email to $groupname Freegle Group that appears to be Spam.

To solve the problem you are having today, you need to change your email passwords & run a spam/ virus/ malware software program (there are many good free basic programs such as Windows Defender, AVG) this needs to be done immediately.

To prevent this from happening in the future we recommend you change your password regularly. It is also better for your own security to have an antivirus program constantly running in the background, scanning emails and files. If you don't have an antivirus, just check online for a free download

For a while we will check your messages before they go to the community to make sure there aren’t any more Spam emails.

If you need any further advice please do not hesitate to contact the Moderating Team.

Regards,

$myname

$groupname Volunteer

$owneremail

or .....................................

Sorry,

It looks like either your e-mail has been hacked or you have got a computer virus - either way your email is sending out spam.

This is probably not your fault, it is possible your email provider has had its records hacked into. We suggest that you do the following, in this order:

• Download and install an up-to-date virus checker and firewall - you can get

free, legal software from www.filehippo. com, AVG & Avast

• Disconnect from the internet
• Run a thorough anti-malware scan (malewarebytes is good for cleaning

computers)

• Change ALL your passwords - alphaplusnumeric ones are harder to hack
• Check your e-mail programme for, and remove, any vacation replies that have

been set up. Unless you really need to don't store your contact list online, where it is easily accessed by someone who gains access.

To protect our members, your posts will be moderated, for now.

Kind Regards
$myname
$groupname

.............

Hi there

1) Your account has (just) been hacked and the hacker is sending messages from your account, OR

2) Your account was hacked some time ago, and the hacker copied your settings and address book and used those to set up a fake account with your credentials.

We recommend that you...

• change your mail password, and any other passwords, using a DIFFERENT

computer

• scan your computer for viruses and malware

This should stop the hacker from being able to access your account again - but you can't do anything about any data they have already copied, and you won't be able to stop them from sending out emails with your address in the "from" line.

Regards
$myname
$groupname

.............

Dear *********

 I am sorry to be writing, but need to tell you that your membership of our Freegle Community has been suspended. This is the second time you have sent spam messages to the Community.

Now, to be fair, we don't think it's deliberate, and you've been suspended not as a punishment, but to protect the Community.

 It's almost certain that your computer has been infected with some
 sort of malware. It's probably sending these messages out to all your
 address book in chunks and at intervals. You may have received other complaints from friends?

 What you need to do now is scan your machine, not just for viruses,
 but also for trojans, worms, and the various other nasties that can
 cause mayhem. There are some very good programs out there which can
 do this, some even free for home use. There are also a number of
 websites which offer a free scan of your machine, but if you search
 for these, be careful, as a few are a cover for software which will
 actually infect your machine! Best to go for those referred from a
 computing magazine, website or similar trustworthy source.

 Once your machine has been thoroughly disinfected, before you do
 anything else, CHANGE *ALL* YOUR PASSWORDS, especially anything
 related to finance!

 When you've changed your password, please let us know and
 we'll reinstate your membership.

 A word of caution. If you ignore this message, and we continue to
 receive spam emails, eventually we will unsubscribe you. We won't, and don't, do this lightly, but
 it has happened in the past when the level of spam has become
 intolerable, as it will eventually do if you do nothing.

If you need any help, please do ask. We hope your computer is sorted out soon.

Best wishes

$groupname moderating team

Link: Sample Messages