Thanks for your suggestions.  to add some info

windows 7 Ultimate, 64 bit

Firefox 9.01

NIS 2012 v 19.5.0.145

Have used identitiy safe for many years very effectively

As recommended

Re-booted

Cleared Firefox cache

ran Malwarebytes full scan and there were no findings

Started emails again and on the same email address got a similar set of asian language characters