What to do when you think a friend's email has been hacked

[nanaspain]

Hi - it's me - the technophobe and all-round IT dodo again.  Can anyone advise me of the best course of action - because I have been given conflicting advice?  Occasionally I receive emails supposedly from people on my contact list - which are patently not from them.  I don't open these in case they contain any viruses, but I can see that the sender email address, when I hover the cursor over the sender's name, is from some very strange foreign domain.   I have been told by one 'expert' that it is helpful to forward these emails, without opening, to the person from whom they are supposed to have been sent, in order that they can see what is being sent out in their name and take appropriate action.  Another 'expert' has advised me not to forward them as doing so apparently triggers another chain reaction, the explanation for which went completely over my head.    Does anyone have genuine 'expert' advice (in words of one syllable pleeeeease) about what I need to do for the best to protect all concerned? 
Also - any advice on what I should do if ever I am hacked?
Many thanks   

[Judi_bk]

Personally I delete and ignore them

[Drax]

Yes, ignore/delete but also message your friend to let them know you've received a dodgy email from them.

[nanaspain]

Thanks for the advice folks   

[frankie]

nanaspain, I am also a total dimwit where internet is concerned, you simply cannot be worse than me... 
I always look at the internet address of the sender which will bear no relation to the friend they are supposed to be from.  I delete them and do not open them.  I then let whoever they are supposedly from know about it.

[nanaspain]

Thanks Frankie -  glad to know that I'm not the only one !!

[frankie]

Hey, nanaspain, maybe we should start a separate group for non technical people.  We could get a 7 year old to explain everything to us...

[nanaspain]

Works for me Frankie  !! - (and we could pay him/her in jelly babies )   

[frankie]

Wow!  That' sounds like plan....

[Judi_bk]

Where are you going to find the 7 year old?

[frankie]

Good point Judi.  I cannot see myself hanging around outside a school, I'd be arrested.  Might have to rethink that one...

[nanaspain]

Yeah !  Looks like we will just have to keep harassing the good folk on here for guidance then.   

[frankie]

Yes, agreed.  Providing it is in words of one syllable (or less if possible!).