# SPAM messages marked as "read", even though I didn't? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 2, 2008, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-messages-marked-as-read-even-though-i-didnt/447774 "2008-05-02T16:26:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-messages-marked-as-read-even-though-i-didnt/447774/1 "2008-05-02T16:26:44Z")
I use Yahoo mail. Recently I’ve noticed SPAM email that is marked as “read” in the SPAM folder (i.e., not bolded in the list, as unread messages are) even though I am SURE that I didn’t open them. Why is this happening? Is this some spammers method of making me think I’ve opened that email? (Though I can’t imagine what advantage that would give.) Is my email system _automatically_ “reading” this message, even though I haven’t? (There’s a scary thought! Imagine what mischief a spammer could do if that were true!) Any theories or knowledge why this is happening? Thanks, J. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-messages-marked-as-read-even-though-i-didnt/447774/2 "2008-05-02T17:08:04Z")
I also use Yahoo! mail and I have never seen this happen before. Is this in you Inbox or Spam folder? ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-messages-marked-as-read-even-though-i-didnt/447774/3 "2008-05-02T17:22:07Z")
[QUOTE=dolphinboy] I also use Yahoo! mail and I have never seen this happen before. Is this in you Inbox or Spam folder? [/QUOTE] I’ve noticed it in the SPAM folder for sure. I can’t confirm that I’ve seen it in the inbox. J. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-messages-marked-as-read-even-though-i-didnt/447774/4 "2008-05-02T17:28:34Z")
Sounds strange. I would let Yahoo know what you’ve noticed. You can contact them at [Help for your Yahoo Account](http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/mail/yahoomail/contactus/index.html). Let us know what they tell you… ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-messages-marked-as-read-even-though-i-didnt/447774/5 "2008-05-02T21:18:10Z")
If you open a message in the Inbox then click the button that indicates it’s spam in Yahoo! Mail, isn’t it sent to the Spam box, but is marked as read? ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-messages-marked-as-read-even-though-i-didnt/447774/6 "2008-05-02T21:23:49Z")
I’ve seen the same thing in my Yahoo Inbox. No idea. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-messages-marked-as-read-even-though-i-didnt/447774/7 "2008-05-03T12:00:58Z")
In the meantime, I’d suggest changing your password… Just to be on the safe side… ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-messages-marked-as-read-even-though-i-didnt/447774/8 "2008-05-04T20:12:35Z")
More info: I’ve noticed that only the messages that I have “checked” in the inbox (without opening) and clicked the “Spam” button show up as “read” in the Spam folder. J. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-messages-marked-as-read-even-though-i-didnt/447774/9 "2008-05-04T20:22:23Z")
The Microsoft Outlook preview panel automatically opens and displays the top message in the inbox every time you start the program. That message is thereafter counted as already read, whether you meant to look at it or not. There was a scare a few years ago about viruses getting in through this feature. ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-messages-marked-as-read-even-though-i-didnt/447774/10 "2008-05-04T20:26:07Z")
[QUOTE=Johanna] The Microsoft Outlook preview panel automatically opens and displays the top message in the inbox every time you start the program. That message is thereafter counted as already read, whether you meant to look at it or not. There was a scare a few years ago about viruses getting in through this feature. [/QUOTE] Yes, but that’s not what is happening here. The Yahoo mail window preview panel does not open the message until you click on the message itself, not just the checkbox. If you are reading a message then delete that message, Yahoo mail automatically opens the next message. This is another potential way that spam mail could be opened, but, again, that is not what is happening here. J. ---
**Author:** ![Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pasta)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-messages-marked-as-read-even-though-i-didnt/447774/11 "2008-05-04T21:09:20Z")
SPAM=meat. spam=email. From [Hormel](http://www.spam.com/legal/spam/): > [@](#): > > We do not object to use of this slang term to describe UCE. \ Also, if the term is to be used, it should be used in all lower-case letters to distinguish it from our trademark SPAM, which should be used with all uppercase letters.