How do they know?

[rockyroad]

Since I've started experiencing financial issues, I've been inundated with emails about avoiding bankruptcy, avoiding foreclosure, settle your debts for pennies on the dollar as seen on MSNBC, etc...
Also, every now and then I used to receive those total scam emails from wealthy princes in Africa or whatever they are, however, now I receive at least 5-10 of those emails every day!!
Is this type of scam just becoming more prominent or are these scumbags just trying to take advantage of people that are in desperate financial situations? And the bigger question, how do they know I am having financial issues?
Do they have programs that track your web searches or am I just being paranoid?

[catleg]

Everybody is getting that garbage. Nobody is advertising mortgages anymore right?

[floridian]

i saw on fox news, the the CDC taps into google searches to find out who has the flu...
not that this is the case, but i will bet other agencies do the same thing...
for what its worth, who knows!

[chloe0724]

It may be related to your internet usage as well. Every site you visit has the ability to remeber you.

[floridian]

i also read that social security monitors when you visit their site..

[magyar123]

i also read that social security monitors when you visit their site..

That probably started when the govt. authorized bugging folks' phones and internet access.
Supposedly only folks who "are believed to be" members of terrorist organizations.
No one will ever be safe again from the govt snooping into your business.

[Mi Bankruptcy]

If you allowed "cookies" to be enabled on your computer it can send data about what sites you have visited and what you have been searching for. You should clean out your internet history regularly.

[rockyroad]

Ah, ok, I will clear out the cookies. I just know that in the past few months every member of royalty in every country has a bank deposit waiting for me!! HA!

[catleg]

I believe that scammers will often try every combination of letters and numbers to make up an email address for a common domain e.g.Yahoo.com.

So lately when I setup a new email account I try to make the username as long as possible. Seems to cut down on spam.