[stopsucking]

Having the exact same issue here. Just started today (10/16) Opened Outlook and within minutes started seeing tons of failed delivery messages. I primarily use a web interface so no huge loss not using Outlook. Still very curious about what this could be.

[AKAJohnDoe]

I would hazard a guess that the failed delivery messages did not originate from the client on your PC, but rather from either another client elsewhere (compromised password) or from a server (compromised SMTP server).

[stopsucking]

Right...bounced messages started showing up from the servers my email was sending emails to. Very strange little Outlook issue...

[AKAJohnDoe]

Believe what you will

[stopsucking]

AkaJohnDoe...I guess I'm not catching your drift. Believe what? I know exactly what is happening here. Outlook 2007 has some sort of malware/virus attached to it. When I open the program, it immediately starts sending emails out. I checked and it was more than 50 in under 30 seconds. Those emails sent to bogus addresses were of course bounced back to me with error messages. I am aware that the failed messages did not originate from my PC.

[AKAJohnDoe]

I would probably uninstall and reinstall Outlook, if not a fresh install of the OS if I could not locate anything via a run of SAS or MBAM.

[Rich-M]

If your Outlook was sending these, then they would show in your "Sent" folder. Do they?
Of course not, so what you are receiving is return notices because they are sent from somewhere else but mimic your email address and the problem is not with Outlook, but instead your email server. My guess is they are between spam programs, just started a new one, or changed what they do and need to be notified of your issues.

It could also be the servers being sent to have changed their spamware also and are rejecting more than usual.

[AKAJohnDoe]

Thanks, Rich. Well said.

[AKAJohnDoe]

Anyone can of course do this just by setting your email address in the REPLY-TO as well.

[iceburglar]

Rich-M...i've had this problem for a month or so...have since just stopped using outlook altogether....

Your assumption in your last post is absolutely not true...

The headers in the returned mail show MY COMPUTER NAME!

here is an example.

Received: from supernova (24-155-12-71.dyn.grandenetworks.net [24.155.12.71])
by mx2.lsn.net (8.13.5/8.13.5) with ESMTP id m8PE9Akh002765
for <SoonKyoo-aantureni>; Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:09:15 -0500

My laptop is named supernova. and this email is getting sent from MY COMPUTER!

as well OUTLOOK SHOWS MAIL BEING SENT IN THE STATUS BAR AT THE BOTTOM WHILE IT IS SENDING THE SPAM...

but the SENT SPAM DOESN'T SHOW UP IN SENT MAIL FOLDER.

-sorry for the all caps...but these are essential points.

-mike d

[Rich-M]

Real sorry but Outlook cannot send email, only you can.
Sent email shows up in the "Sent" folder unless you change that setting, spam or any other.
Your mail is being intercepted somewhere and spoofed, so of course it would have your computer name and email address. Now a virus in your system utilizing Outlook or any other email program could also send mail.

[Hirnsausen]

All I know, the Windows OS works with so-called "Script Languages". Microsoft Office programs use those scripts (called macros), and also Microsoft Outlook. Meant as a helpful feature for those who can program in those script languages, they are also opening door and gate for bad usage. One infected macro-containing Office document or e-mail, and your Windows OS could receive new commands which it will accept and execute.

I am suspecting that is, what may have happened in your case.

Now, the problem is really how to locate and erase those bad scripts? I am not sure. Since they're no viruses but written in the Windows-internal script language, they are not easily detectable. I wonder, if someone knows where the Windows OSs host all scripts. There I would search. But even so, maybe they were multiplied, and renew each other when being deleted at one location.

Well, if nothing helps, consider to remove all macros from any of your documents and e-mails, then backup all your own files on some DVDs or memory sticks (jump drives), ensure to have all installation files at hand (OS and software) and the related installation serials, and format your hard drive completely and re-install a clean copy of Windows and the software you need. Then put back your cleaned, checked and macro-removed user files.

Drastical step, but in some helpless situations the only thing that surely helps. IF you cleaned all your user files and e-mails before.

Also make sure that your e-mail client does NOT open (preview) e-mails automatically when clicking one e-mail. Some virus-infected e-mails can this way activate the scripts within and infect (or re-infect) your system that way. And try to avoid macro-containing documents in the future.

Do that formatting only, if all other methods failed, and ask experienced friends for their opinion before. And sorry that I could not assist with better advices.

[AKAJohnDoe]

You can easily disable scripting and all add-ons in Outlook.

Still, if there's nothing in the SENT folder, the emails are not originating locally.

[zachlutz]

Just freaked out after having the same thing happen to me. This is the only forum I can find that's tracking it. Everything has already been said, but I'll summarize my experiences. I use Gmail and access it online and through IMAP with Outlook 2007.

- Inbox becomes flooded with undeliverable receipts
- Check sent mail folder on my Gmail server, sure enough, these messages are listed
- Freak. Update AVG and Windows Defender, run full scans, nothing found
- Run MSConfig, browse start-up and services tabs, investigate odd ones, everything seems legit

- I currently have Outlook set to only store sent messages locally, as anything passing through Gmail's SMTP server is automatically added to my Sent Items. There's no trace of these messages in Outlook's local folder.
- Still very suspicious that my computer's name is included in these sent mails, but until somebody corrects Rich-M, I'm willing to accept that this is to be expected

- I've since changed my password and will only be accessing my Email through Gmail's web interface for the next week or so, to see whether these symptoms repeat without using Outlook.
- I'll continue to monitor the forum and post any new revelations along the way.

[mx66]

The exact same thing as zachlutz describes (post before mine) happened to me last night. It's zachlutz description to a T.

I ran virus scans, ad-aware, analyzed the running processes and msconfig.
Updated all virus scan software and ran again...nothing.

Sounds like a new virus that's infected outlook. I'm going to try disabling all add-ins and scripts in Outlook.

Tip: Start outlook with your internet connection DISABLED, you won't send any email then.