100+ Emails in Minutes—How I Discovered an Email Bombing Attack

Imagine being at work, minding your business, when suddenly you get an email from a company confirming a purchase you never made. Panic sets in. Fraud? A hacked account? That’s exactly what happened to me. But before I could even investigate, my inbox exploded with over 100 emails in just a few minutes—confirmation codes, verification emails, and random spam from websites I’d never heard of.

At first, I was overwhelmed and confused. It felt like my inbox was under siege, and I had no idea why. But after some quick thinking (and a bit of research), I realized I was experiencing something called email bombing—a cyberattack designed to flood my inbox to distract me from something far worse: fraud.

What is Email Bombing?

Email bombing is a tactic used by scammers to distract victims from seeing important emails—like fraud alerts or purchase confirmations. Attackers flood your inbox with hundreds or even thousands of emails in just minutes. The goal? To bury the real fraud under a mountain of junk.

How My Attack Happened

1. Suspicious Purchase Notification – The first email I saw was a purchase confirmation from Best Buy for an $80 order. The problem? I never made that purchase.
2. Flood of Emails – Within seconds of seeing that email, my inbox was bombarded with hundreds of spam emails—verification codes, fake subscriptions, and random junk mail. Some emails even looked like they were from real companies, but upon closer inspection, I noticed the sender addresses were full of random letters and numbers—a classic phishing attempt.
3. Immediate Action – Realizing I was under attack, I enabled two-factor authentication (2FA) on my email account. Almost instantly, the flood of emails stopped. This made me suspect that the attackers had access to my email but got blocked when 2FA was enabled.
4. Checking for Fraud – Once my inbox calmed down, I went back to check the Best Buy email. The order was for pickup, I assumed someone was likely waiting to grab the item before I could report it. Panicked, I checked my bank account—but to my relief, there were no fraudulent charges on my debit or credit cards. It seems the hackers may have used the wrong card by mistake, sparing me from what could have been a major financial headache.

How Hackers Use Email Bombing for Fraud

Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky. Many people who experience email bombing later find multiple unauthorized purchases—sometimes for thousands of dollars. The scam works like this:

• Step 1: Stealing Your Payment Information – Scammers get your credit or debit card info from phishing emails, data breaches, or malware.
  
• Step 2: Making a Fraudulent Purchase – They buy expensive items, often choosing in-store pickup to get the goods before you notice.
  
• Step 3: Flooding Your Inbox – They bombard your email with:
  • Spam emails
  • Fake subscription confirmations
  • Phishing emails disguised as real companies
    
• Step 4: Hiding the Fraud – While you’re distracted by the email flood, the real purchase confirmation is buried. By the time you find it, the order is already picked up, and getting a refund becomes nearly impossible.
  

  

How to Protect Yourself from Email Bombing and Fraud

If you ever experience a sudden flood of emails, don’t ignore it. Take action immediately to minimize the damage.

1. Secure Your Email

• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) – This was the key to stopping my attack.
• Change your email password to something strong and unique.

2. Search for Suspicious Transactions

With your inbox overwhelmed, it’s easy to miss fraudulent emails. Try searching for:

• “Purchase confirmation”
• “Order receipt”
• Your bank’s name

This will help you quickly find any fraudulent transactions before it’s too late.

3. Check Your Financial Accounts

• Log into your bank and credit card accounts to check for unauthorized charges.
• Set up instant transaction alerts via email, app, or SMS to get notified immediately of any purchases.

4. Don’t Click on Suspicious Emails

• Do NOT click links in spam emails, even if they claim to be from a real company.
• Cyberattackers will use the spam emails as a phishing scam on top of the email bombing to get more information from you. 

5. Contact Your Bank If You Suspect Fraud

If you confirm a fraudulent charge, call your bank or credit card provider immediately to:

• • Dispute the transaction
  • Freeze your card 

Final Thoughts: Stay Aware and Act Fast

Email bombing might seem like just an annoying flood of spam, but it’s often a cover for financial fraud. The sooner you recognize the attack, secure your accounts, and check for fraudulent purchases, the better your chances of stopping scammers before they succeed.

At Attractional Marketing, we help businesses safeguard your digital presence by implementing smart security practices, monitoring suspicious activity, and ensuring your online assets remain protected. If you ever experience a sudden explosion of emails, don’t ignore it—you could be the next target of this growing cybercrime. Stay alert, protect your email, and take action immediately. Need help securing your digital footprint? We’ve got your back.