How to Email Sender Check Without Opening Email

There are numerous ways to check an email sender without even opening the arriving piece of mail. This particular how to is very easy to follow to safeguard you and your computer from phony solicitations that can contain malware, viruses, and more. While it is always highly advisable to run outstanding antivirus software, still that occasional piece of email passes the test, but still looks mighty suspicious. So let's check it the easy way:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Common sense
• A solid anti virus program
• The ability to follow simple instructions

1. From Who To Who?
   
   The first obvious email that doesn't require any checking is the piece of mail you get that somehow magically arrived from you to you. At that point, unless you're on your own mailing list as a test - and you know you just sent something out - you can eliminate that piece of mail immediately.
   
   This is the use of falsified headers, and trust me tracing them requires a level of know how most of us do not possess. I've traced some emails as far back as Asia and then the path just closes down. It won't do you a bit of good wasting time trying to find the clowns using your email address, they disappear into cyberspace. You should, however, considering giving your hosting service a heads up. At the same time make double sure you do not accidentally block (spam block) the email itself. Remember it was your own email address. It stinks but better to get the occasional junk then not be able to receive any of your incoming mail, right?

2. 
    
   Outlook Internet Header

   Checking Incoming Sender EMail With Outlook (Not Express)
   
   This also is easy. When my email arrives I do NOT double click and open that email. It is not necessary. If you get something that appears to be from say, for example, Bank of America (just as an example), RIGHT CLICK on the message itself and go to Options.
   
   This opens a window called "Message Options." You want to take a careful look at the Internet Headers section - the little gray box at the bottom. There you will clearly see the Return Path of the person who supposedly sent you this email. Scroll down a bit further and check the From field. Even check the To field (I've seen my email listed multiple times using multiple addresses I do not even have set up, yet there is always that one valid one).
   
   Obviously if "[e-mail]" sent it, it's bogus and goes immediately into first your spam blocker and then the trash. Don't bother trying to set up a rule, the domain listed (the part before the .com) doesn't exist and likely you won't get anything from them again. And if you do, your incoming virus check will mark it as spam and hopefully treat it appropriately by either deleting it or putting in the trash.

3. 
    
   Outlook Express Email Sender Details

   Email Sender Checking Using Outlook Express
   
   Again, without opening the email, right click on that newly arriving mail that got by your virus protection. Choose Properties, then click on the Details tab.
   
   You want to check all of the following: the Return Path, From, To, and scrolling down you'll be able to gather even more information.
   
   Again if anything seems suspicious, spam block it and toss it in the trash.

4. If You Don't Know Them Don't Open It
   
   The bottom line is if you don't know the person, or know you just signed up to receive anything, or if it's "official looking" but you don't know why you are receiving it, following the directions above prevents even the remote chance of something nasty happening.
   
   Our human instinct, unfortunately, is to open first and face the consequences later. Look before you leap (or in this case check the mail sender) without risking any negative repercussions.

Tips & Warnings

• Use common sense
• Keep your anti virus current

Resources

• View e-mail headers