Did anyone get a message from microsoft that looked sort of unusual?

1. 0

   sandra rinckposted 14 years ago

   I got an alert message in my email today from something that says it was from Microsoft live heading: Verify your account now to avoid being closed.
   
   It looks fishy so I did not do it and I didn't find anything on the internet to indicate that there is actually a problem with Microsoft live.
   
   The Message:
   
   Dear Account User,
   
   We encountered a problem with our database and a lot of records were lost, we are restoring our database to enable us serve you better. Your Windows Live! Account details are required so as to store in our database to keep your account active. Failure to do this will lose his or her account permanently.
   
   To update and enable us restore your account details in our data base to keep your account active, you are required to provide us the details below urgently. Click the reply button to enter details below.
   Username: ……………………..
   Password: …………………….
   Date of Birth: …………………
   
   Country or Territory: …………
   Make sure the details above are correct to enable us restore your account details, this will help prevent your account from been suspended.
   Note: YOUR DETAILS WILL NOT BE SHARED.
   Users have often told us that the more they use Windows Live! Service, the more they discover its benefits. We'll keep working on making Windows Live! the best email service around, and we appreciate your joining us for the ride.
   
   Sincerely,
   Windows Live Alert Team
   
   Microsoft Corporation
   
   
   
   Some dead giveaways are that Microsoft never sends me anything that doesn't have my name on it.  They have never in 12 years asked me for account information and they have never signed with the signature left... at least not like this anyways.
   
   If you get this message in your email I would don't think it is a good idea.  I am nearly positive that Microsoft is able to recover anything problem like this on their own without having to ask for personally identifiable information.

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   1. 55

      yoshi97posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      It's an old phishing scam ... delete the email.

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2. 60

   Jonathan Jancoposted 14 years ago

   Microsoft should have all of your information (and everyone elses) backed up on a satellite somewhere. The problem w/ hacking, phishing and spamming is that the techniques they use are getting more and more sophisticated (i.e. mimmicking recognizable corporate logos and such).

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3. 0

   pgrundyposted 14 years ago

   Yes this is called fishing and is just an attempt by some scammer to get your personal information. When I worked for the bank, we regularly heard about fishing emails that even simulated our bank website if you clicked on an embedded email link.
   
   Never respond to anything like that in an email. No reputable business asks for anything like that via email.

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4. 86

   rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

   even with an official notification, they would never ask for your password.

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5. 69

   Jeffrey Nealposted 14 years ago

   Phishing attempt...delete it.

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6. 95

   Sue Adamsposted 14 years ago

   Thanks for the warning.

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7. 71

   retellectposted 14 years ago

   They wanna catch Salmon!
   
   I think its funny when I get these emails, especially asking to verify my Live account details when I'm already logged in using it!

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8. 60

   Bovine Currencyposted 14 years ago

   The only way to properly protect yourself is never retain your valuable information on the same system as your internet access.
   
   These sort of scams are probably the least of your worries.

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9. 68

   Blogging Erikaposted 14 years ago

   Yep, go with your gut!  No service is ever going to ask for your password, much less your birthdate, in email.
   
   I had to laugh at the idea of an email from Microsoft that starts out with, "We encountered a problem with our database and a lot of records were lost."  Yep, that sounds just like something Microsoft would go around telling people!

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10. 59

    awirelessbusinessposted 14 years ago

    Here's a link from one of the resources on my sites:
    www.phishtank.com
    
    Lots of phishing info and you can pass on your own. Microsoft does not need to get data backups from external means. They aren't that incompetent yet. (and since when did Microsoft EVER admit to a mistake before it was pointed out several times to them by someone outside the company?) LOL

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