Receiving messages from unknown senders

A message that is sent to you by someone who is not on your contact list or the My Allow List might be spam message. The following table explains your options when you receive a message from an unknown sender.

Caution: Never disclose your password, credit card number, social security number, or other personal information in an instant message conversation. To help prevent infection by malicious software, never accept or open any file or link in an instant message until you verify its authenticity with the sender.

Option	Security implications
Accept	If you recognize the e-mail address of the person trying to contact you, you can accept the message and add the person to your contact list. If you accept a message by mistake and then decide that the message is junk, click Block in the conversation window. This blocks that person from seeing your online status or contacting you again.
Decline	If the e-mail address is unfamiliar, you can decline the message. The sender does not receive notification that the message was declined.
Preferences	You can change your preferences so that Communicator blocks all messages from unknown senders. Or, you can turn off warnings from Communicator when you receive a message from an unknown sender.