WARNING: Windows Live Team Phishing Scam
I just received the following phishing email message claiming to be from the Windows Live Team. If you receive this email, do not respond to it. Just delete the message.
Some of the indicators that this email is not legitimate include:
- Email address of the sender is a plain hotmail address
- Poor grammar, capitalization, and spacing.
- Asks for too much personal information (Windows Live would not ask for your password, secret question, secret answer, and date of birth)
Here is the text of the message that I received:
Subject: Important Message Regarding Your Windows Live Account
From: Windows Live Team [zarjah@hotmail.com]
Dear Account User,
This Email is from Windows Live Team Customer Care and we are sending it to every Windows Live Team Email User Accounts Owner for safety. we are having congestions due to the anonymous registration of Windows Live Team accounts so we are shutting down some Windows Live Team accounts and your account was among those to be deleted.We are sending you this email to so that you can verify and let us know if you still want to use this account.If you are still interested please confirm your account by filling the space below.Your User name,password,secret question,secret answer,date of birth and your country information would be needed to verify your account.Due to the congestion in all Windows Live Team users and removal of all unused Accounts, Windows Live Team will be shutting down all unused Accounts, You will have to confirm your E-mail by filling out your Login Information below after clicking the reply button, or your account will be suspended within 24 hours for security reasons.
* YOUR NAME:
*USER NAME:
*E-MAIL ID:
*PASSWORD:
*VERIFY PASSWORD:
*ALTERNATE EMAIL ADDRESS:
*DATE OF BIRTH:
*COUNTRY/TERRITORY:
Warning!!! Account owner that refuses to update his/her account after two weeks of receiving this warning will lose his or her account permanently. We apologize.
Windows Live Team Account Service
Team Admin….
Access your email online and on the go with Windows Live Hotmail. Sign up today.
17 comments
Same message I keep receiving follows:
Hotmail Alert!!!
From: Windows Live Team (frmojohn@hotmail.com)
You may not know this sender.Mark as safe|Mark as junk
Sent: Sat 3/14/09 6:38 AM
To:
Dear Account User
This Email is from Hotmail Customer Care and we are sending it to every Hotmail Email User Accounts Owner for safety. we are having congestions due to the anonymous registration of Hotmail accounts so we are shutting down some Hotmail accounts and your account was among those to be deleted. We are sending this email to you so that you can verify and let us know if you still want to use this account. If you are still interested please confirm your account by filling the space below.Your User name, password, date of birth and your country information would be needed to verify your account.
Due to the congestion in all Hotmail users and removal of all unused Hotmail Accounts, Hotmail would be shutting down all unused Accounts, You will have to confirm your E-mail by filling out your Login Information below after clicking the reply button, or your account will be suspended within 24 hours for security reasons.
* Username: ………………………..
* Password: …………………………..
* Date of Birth: ……………………….
* Country Or Territory: …………….
After following the instructions in the sheet, your account will not be interrupted and will continue as normal. Thanks for your attention to this request. We apologize for any inconveniences.
Warning!!! Account owner that refuses to update his/her account after two weeks of receiving this warning will lose his or her account permanently.
Sincerely,
The Windows Live Hotmail Team
Here is an e-mail i just got from Windows Live Team
Payment Of Prize And Claim(Reply to: msw_claimsdept9@live.com)
From: Windows Live Team (gisele.chouri@noos.fr)
You may not know this sender.Mark as safe|Mark as junk
Sent: Sun 3/15/09 6:21 PM
To:
Microsoft Award TeamBaley House, Har RoadSutton, Greater LondonSM1 4te United A Kingdom.Batch: 12/25/0340 Dear Winner This is to inform you that you have won a prize money of fivehundred thousand pounds(£500,000) from New Year Edition 2009Lottery promotion which is organized by YAHOO LOTTERY INC,WINDOWS LIVE & MICROSOFT WINDOWS, collects all theemail addresses of people that are active online,among the millions that subscribed to Yahoo and Hotmail weonly select five people every Month as our winners throughelectronic balloting System without the winner applying,wecongratulate you for being one of the people selected. PAYMENT OF PRIZE AND CLAIMYou are to contact your Claims Agent with immediate effect tofacilitate the protocol of your winning prize before the dateof Claim,Winners Shall be paid in accordance with his/herSettlement Center. Prize must be claimed not later than 15days from date of Draw Notification after the Draw date inwhich Prize has won. Any prize not claimed within this periodwill be forfeited. These are your identification numbers:Batch number……………….12/25/0340Reff number……………………Ref:MSN-L/200-26937Winning number………………..YM09788 To begin your claim please contact our licensed andaccredited agent assigned to you Mr. Terry Martins(VERIFICATION DEPARTMENT MANAGER)Email: msw_claimsdept9@live.comTel: +44-702-404-2554 You are therefore advised to send the following informationto the claims agent to facilitate them and in order for themto have access in proceeding with the transfer of yourfunds to your nominated bank account. 1. Full name………2. Country…..3. Contact Address…4. Telephone Number….5. Marital Status…..6. Occupation……7. Company……..8. Age……… Msn Lottery Prize must be claimed not later than 15 days fromdate of Draw Notification after the Draw date in which Prizehas won. Any prize not claimed within this period will beforfeited. Congratulations!! once again. Yours in service,Mrs. Pamela James(Operation Manager)
Can’t you detect these and delete them before they come through to us?
Dear Account User
CONFIRM YOUR WINDOWS LIVE ACCOUNT SERVICES. VERIFY YOUR HOTMAIL ACCOUNT NOW !!!
This Email is from Hotmail Customer Care and we are sending it to every Hotmail Email User Accounts Owner for safety. we are having congestions due to the anonymous registration of Hotmail accounts so we are shutting down some Hotmail accounts and your account was among those to be deleted. We are sending this email to you so that you can verify and let us know if you still want to use this account. If you are still interested please confirm your account by filling the space below.Your User name, password, date of birth and your country information would be needed to verify your account.
Confirm your E-mail by filling out your Login Information below after clicking the reply button, or your account will be suspended within 24 hours for security reasons.
* Username: …………………………
* Password: …………………………..
* Date of Birth: ……………………….
* Country Or Territory: ……………..
After following the instructions in the sheet, your account will not be interrupted and will continue as normal. Thanks for your attention to this request. We apologize for any inconveniences.
Warning!!! Account owner that refuses to update his/her account after two weeks of receiving this warning will lose his or her account permanently.
Sincerely,
The Windows Live Hotmail Team
Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.
You would think that Hotmail would email us and warn us of this phishing scam since it was supposedly using their corporation’s name.
If they had, I missed it.
I was very concerned at first my account would be canceled because I have some sentimental emails from my late Dad in my “save” file. I guess I should print them, huh?
I find it perfectly reasonable that hotmail would want to close down unused accounts so I will bet some people will imprudently comply.
I would have fallen prey had I not noticed that the return email was obviously not Hotmail and the email supposedly from hotmail itself said “you may not know this person” and hotmail blocked the graphics until I hit the “safe” button. It never does any of that with its own Spam. At least I don’t think it does….
That’s what prompted me to do a yahoo search, which led me here. Had this scammer been a little more sophisticated he might have included a link where we would plug in our passwords etc instead of including them in the body of the email — a dead give away that it is not legit.
AND I JUST SPILLED MY COFFEE!!! So I am requesting the Internet Police please add that crime to the list of charges against yee_xiong04@yahoo.com.
And another thing. It is to bad you can’t send these scammers a Virus bomb back and destroy thier computer. Kinda like in the movie “Stargate” whent he good guys beamed up a nuclear bomb to the bad guy’s spaceship with four seconds to go on the clock.
Yeah, just like that.
Hello and Welcome to Windows Live Hotmail®
Congratulations! You have just been selected as of this year winners of the Windows Live Hotmail email promo.
This is to officially inform you that you have won $2,000,000.00 (Two Million United States Dollars).
MICROSOFT WINDOWS, arrange and gather all the e-mail addresses of the people that are active online, among the millions that subscribed to All email Address, and others we only select Nine(9) candidates per annually as our winners through Electronic Balloting System (EBS) without the candidate applying, we congratulate you for being one of the people selected.
The next generation of MSN® Hotmail is in your hands - fast, simple, and safer than ever before.
• Bookmark this link to login to your Windows Live Hotmail
These numbers above fall within the agent’s Location file, you are requested to contact your Agent and send your Identification Numbers and Personal Information to him;
BARR. TERRY FREEDMAN Sat his email:
Email: Freedman33@Aggies.com
You are therefore advised to send the following information to him to facilitate them and process the transfer of your fund with the appointed paying bank.
Send your Identification Numbers/Your Personal Information to him immediately:
Personal Information
1. Full name………………
2. Country………………..
3. Contact Address………..
4. Telephone Number………
5. Marital Status…………..
6. Occupation………………
7. Age……………………..
8. Sex…………………….
Date……………………..
Congratulations once again.
Yours in service,
Djoudi’s post above shows another email scam for Hotmail users to watch out for.
Hotmail Account Alert
From: Window Live Team (lnmoss@hotmail.com)
You may not know this sender.Mark as safe|Mark as junk
Sent: 12 November 2009 17:59:44
To: Window Live Team (lnmoss@hotmail.com)
Dear Account Owner
This is email from Windows Live Hotmail and we are sending it to you account user for your safety. Due to the anonymous registration of our account which is causing congestion to our service so we are shutting down some account and your account was among those to be deleted,so the purpose of this email is for you to verify that you are the owner of this account and you are still using it by filling the information below after clicking on the reply button:
* Username:……………………………………
* Password:……………………………………
* Date of Birth:……………………………….
* Country Or Territory: …………………….
After following the instructions in the sheet, your account will not be interrupted and will continue as normal. Thanks for your attention to this request. We apologize for any inconveniences.
Account owner that refuses to update his/her account after two weeks of receiving this warning will lose his or her account permanently.
Sincerely,
The Windows Live Hotmail Team
i recieved this email above on the 12th november 2009, not sure what to do with it?
Verify Your Account Now To avoid Been Closed
From: Widown Live Team (jana9689@hotmail.com)
You may not know this sender.Mark as safe|Mark as junk
Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2009 5:35:01 PM
To: msnwindowslive9000@live.com
ACCOUNT@ UPDATED
Dear Account Owner
CONFIRM YOUR WINDOWS LIVE ACCOUNT SERVICES. VERIFY YOUR HOTMAIL ACCOUNT NOW TO AVOID IT CLOSED !!!
This is email from Windows Live Hotmail® and we are sending to all account user for safety. Due to the anonymous registration of our account which is causing congestion to our service, so we are shutting down some account and your account was among those to be deleted,so the purpose of this email is for you to verify that you are the owner of this account and you are still using it by filling the information below after clicking on the reply button:
User Name:
Password:
Date Of Birth:
Country Or Territory:
After following the instructions in the sheet, your account will not be interrupted and will continue as normal. Thanks for your attention to this request. We apologize for any inconveniences.
Account owner that refuses to update his/her account after 48 hours of receiving this warning will lose his or her account permanently.
Sincerely,
The Windows Live Hotmail Team
I just received a Pfishing email too. Here it is, below.
Claudia
CLOSURE OF HOTMAIL ACCOUNTS!!!
From: Windows Live Team (maddisc@hotmail.com)
You may not know this sender.Mark as safe|Mark as junk
Sent: Wed 12/23/09 1:58 AM
To: Windows Live Team (maddisc@hotmail.com)
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.
Name: ……………………..
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
Warning!!! Hotmail Account Alert
From: Windows Live Team (abby_hubbard_09@hotmail.com)
You may not know this sender.Mark as safe|Mark as junk
Sent: Tue 12/29/09 5:53 PM
To: communication@microsoft.ac.user.com
Windows Live Hotmail Alert!!!
CONFIRM YOUR WINDOWS LIVE ACCOUNT SERVICES. VERIFY YOUR HOTMAIL ACCOUNT NOW TO AVOID IT CLOSED !!!
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.
Name: ……………………..
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
i received this email today 30/12/09
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.
Name: ……………………..
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
——————————————————————————–
I just received this one:
LAST WARNING(ACCOUNT ALERT)
From: Windows live Team support (mbonil015@hotmail.com)
You may not know this sender.Mark as safe|Mark as junk
Sent: January 18, 2010 2:46:34 AM
To:
Windows Live Hotmail Alert !!!
Dear Account Owner
This Email is from Hotmail Customer Care and we are sending it to every Hotmail Email User Accounts Owner for safety. we are having congestions due to the anonymous registration of Hotmail accounts so we are shutting down some Hotmail accounts and your account was among those to be deleted. We are sending this email to you so that you can verify and let us know if you still want to use this account. If you are still interested please confirm your account by filling the space below.Your User name, password, date of birth and your country information would be needed to verify your account.
* Username: ………………………….
* Password: …………………………..
* Date of Birth: ……………………….
* Country Or Territory: …………….
Confirm your E-mail by filling out your Login Information below after clicking the reply button, or your account will be suspended within 48 hours for security reasons.
Sincerely,
The Windows Live Hotmail Team
Pity I did not see the above a whole lot sooner, I fell for the ’scam’ & as a result was hit by a ‘freezer virus’ (think thats what it’s called! anyway I can no longer access my original account & this is my ‘new’ one. I’ve just seen in my In Box - mail from ‘Windows Live Team…CLOSURE OF HOTMAIL ACCOUNT’!!!’ this time I’m NOT even goint to open it. I’m just passing this one to everyone here OK! I’d hate for anyone to be hit with a ‘FREEZER’ Take Care Everyone Skebanga
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