Here's a useful article on wiki about email harvesting
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Email_address_harvesting
Basically there are programs that can try various combinations of names with an email domain and chances are that at least some of them will be valid email addresses. Especailly if your email address happens to be something like 'firstname.lastname at googlemail.com'
There are other ways, including trawling forums (such as this one!) for data. Much depends on what level of protection the forum site affords their users.
Gransnet forums
News & politics
Today, for the first time, I've had 3 weird ads from a California address.
One advertising combat glasses?
Two show the same photo of a woman reclining on what looks like a bed (it's a dim room and photo is b&w) and the blurb is inviting you to tick a box to see the reason why she has multiple ...you know what.
I contacted eSet security who monitor my mobile as, although I could 'unsubscribe', I had never subscribed in the first place.
ESet thankfully blocked both sources but I was wondering how they got my email address. I have two.
One (the one in question) is my main email used only for anything to do with finances/banking, family and my utilities and I have ticked 'no marketing' from all of them.
The other is for online shopping, friends and anything else.
Have you dealt with similar issues?
Who knows who sells our info, all in the name of keeping us 'updated' and 'quality' control. 
Join the conversation
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join the discussion, watch threads and lots more.
Register now »Already registered? Log in with:
Gransnet »