Phishing E-Mail Scam that Masquerades as Windows Live Team

Security researchers from Sophos the security company caution Internet-users about being wary of fake e-mail notifications which seem as originating Windows Live Team.

Using a caption, "Conformation Alert Reset (2013)" and showing one unofficial-appearing @msn.com id in the sender's field, the bogus e-mail states that it has just been confirmed that various PCs attempted at logging onto the recipient's MSN and Hotmail account while several entries of passwords have been erroneous. Consequently, his account is being suspended since there've been fraudulent uses of the same.

After this, the e-mail warns that it's important the recipient validates his account information yet again. For that he requires hitting on his reply tab, enter the complete information into the columns underneath as well as dispatch it to Windows Live Team else there'll be a permanent suspension of his account.

The information solicited includes the user's username and password; full name; birth date; and country-of-origin.

Also, for keeping away any possible doubt as also for making the e-mail appear genuine, the scammers yet included certain suggestions regarding the manner whereby an e-mail A/C could be handled. These are: making an archive; activating the security filters; and erasing some e-mails immediately, Sophos outlines.

Moreover, Sophos observes that even with spam volumes declining at the rate of 53% during 2012 from 2011, personalized spam as well as phishing assaults keep on increasing, and the current spoofed e-mail outbreak quite suggests so.

Besides, as Internet-users continuously increasing tremendously, cyber-crooks execute their phishing and spam mail attacks in more-and-more numbers. Therefore, during any point of period, seemingly malevolent spam campaigns become active by the count of hundreds.

Further, remarking about the above e-mail scam, Senior Technology Consultant Graham Cluley at Sophos states that certainly, Microsoft won't ever ask an end-user for validating his identity like the way suggested in the e-mail, particularly not ask to transmit his password over e-mail. However, computer-users who aren't very well skilled may get fooled into thinking that the e-mail is genuine as well as replying with the entire set of details the online fraudsters demand, Cluley concludes. Nakedsecurity.sophos.com published this dated January 14, 2013.

Related article: Phishing Attacks, Growing in Sophistication

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