Hacked off by Manilla scam

BE on your guard for a computer scam.
I was hacked the other day and my e-mail list used to circulate appeals ostensibly from me, with appeals for cash as I was "in dire straits in Manilla".
Several folk alerted me and I think I have got it sorted out with my service provider. Your providers's security should flag up the 'bad' mail but be vigilant. I lost all the mail in my sent and inbox files but got some of my contacts list back.