Travel Technology - Spurious GMail Invites?

Anyone else recently getting GMail invites from people they don't know? I've gotten 2 in just the last few days, and none at all before that (other than the one that got me my first account years ago, and that was from someone I actually knew).

I'm assuming it's some sort of fishing (can't say phishing, since the links in the email appear to be genuine) expedition, but I can't figure the angle - unless the new recipient's account automatically becomes a SPAM dumpster.

What's doubly bizarre is that I'm receiving these invites on my existing GMail account, not the account (and vanity domain) that I recently moved to Google Apps.

Anyone else recently getting GMail invites from people they don't know? I've gotten 2 in just the last few days, and none at all before that (other than the one that got me my first account years ago, and that was from someone I actually knew).

I'm assuming it's some sort of fishing (can't say phishing, since the links in the email appear to be genuine) expedition, but I can't figure the angle - unless the new recipient's account automatically becomes a SPAM dumpster.

What's doubly bizarre is that I'm receiving these invites on my existing GMail account, not the account (and vanity domain) that I recently moved to Google Apps.

I've been getting these, too. I was wondering what was going on.

fuzz

re the phishing angle: If you invite someone, you get an email confirming that they've accepted.

re the phishing angle: If you invite someone, you get an email confirming that they've accepted.

Mmmyeah, but I guess I don't understand the value of this. Are they spammers that, rather than just "harvesting" email addresses, are actually "sowing" them?

I have not received any of these. I would guess clicking on any of these might take you to a site you would regret going to.

MisterNice

I have not received any of these. I would guess clicking on any of these might take you to a site you would regret going to.

MisterNice

Nope, the acceptance link is genuine, and points to http://mail.google.com/mail/<some sort of unique identifier>. It's not "phishing;" the displayed link matches the underlying link visible in the lower left hand corner of the Firefox status bar.

Nope, the acceptance link is genuine, and points to http://mail.google.com/mail/<some sort of unique identifier>. It's not "phishing;" the displayed link matches the underlying link visible in the lower left hand corner of the Firefox status bar.
It is not too difficult to spoof a link ie redirect to a site different than the "link" displayed. To go to my bank, credit cards, broker etc websites, I always type in the main site address and hyperlink on from there. I never use an address in an email that appears to come from any of them.

MisterNice

It is not too difficult to spoof a link ie redirect to a site different than the "link" displayed. To go to my bank, credit cards, broker etc websites, I always type in the main site address and hyperlink on from there. I never use an address in an email that appears to come from any of them.

MisterNice

Yes, it's called "phishing," and I've referred to it repeatedly in my posts. I know what phishing is. I know how to verify links in web pages and emails. I have verified that these invitations are genuine GMail Invitations, from total strangers. I'm not interested in "Internet Security 101", thank you. I am interested in what those sending out the invitations might gain from doing so.

I have gotten a couple recently... sent to my Gmail address!

They're probably being used as spam probes, testing for valid addresses.

are they email invites or calendar invites? There is an exploit that allows people to get the name associated with your gmail account by inviting you to share a calendar. It also works to verify that a gmail address is valid

are they email invites or calendar invites? There is an exploit that allows people to get the name associated with your gmail account by inviting you to share a calendar. It also works to verify that a gmail address is valid

Gmail. At least, the URL reads:

http://mail.google.com/mail/a-2acb36ce28-dc6180a889-866b1dccbf

(Didn't want anyone inadvertently clicking on it :))