XP Activation or phishing scam

G

Guest

Is this a phishing scam? I receivec it via E-mail
-----------------------------------------------------

Hello Microsoft user,

We here at Microsoft would like you to still receive your normal computer
updates,
That Will protect your computer from Viruses and spyware. We have noticed A
lot of
people are illegally Using our services Without paying for their Windows
Operating
System. Therefor we've made a web site so you can update or validate your
windows
serial and credit card information. If you do not comply with our policy,
windows
will ask you to reactivate your serial number, and it will become invalid.
So you
will lose
any information on your computer. If you do not validate your serial number,
your
copy of windows will be labeled as piracy.

Your Credit Card will not be charged. We use your
credit card information to validate your windows system. If any one else has
your
serial number we will contact you by phone.
It is critical that you update your serial number and validate it, so no one
else
will attempt to use it. We've also added Programs to help fight
piracy and adware. After your verification is complete, You can download these
programs free of charge.

Please validate your account by Signing in our web site below.


http://activatewindowsxp.cjb.net
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

You received a 100% bogus email message! Microsoft would
never send an email message that requests credit card information!

Phishing scams: 5 ways to help protect your identity
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/email/phishing.mspx

Video: What you should know about phishing identity-theft scams
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/email/phishing/video1.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Is this a phishing scam? I receivec it via E-mail
| -----------------------------------------------------
|
| Hello Microsoft user,
|
| We here at Microsoft would like you to still receive your normal computer
| updates,
| That Will protect your computer from Viruses and spyware. We have noticed A
| lot of
| people are illegally Using our services Without paying for their Windows
| Operating
| System. Therefor we've made a web site so you can update or validate your
| windows
| serial and credit card information. If you do not comply with our policy,
| windows
| will ask you to reactivate your serial number, and it will become invalid.
| So you
| will lose
| any information on your computer. If you do not validate your serial number,
| your
| copy of windows will be labeled as piracy.
|
| Your Credit Card will not be charged. We use your
| credit card information to validate your windows system. If any one else has
| your
| serial number we will contact you by phone.
| It is critical that you update your serial number and validate it, so no one
| else
| will attempt to use it. We've also added Programs to help fight
| piracy and adware. After your verification is complete, You can download these
| programs free of charge.
|
| Please validate your account by Signing in our web site below.
|
|
| http://activatewindowsxp.cjb.net
|
|
 
L

Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]

Paul said:
Is this a phishing scam? I receivec it via E-mail
-----------------------------------------------------

Hello Microsoft user,

We here at Microsoft would like you to still receive your normal
computer updates,
That Will protect your computer from Viruses and spyware. We have
noticed A lot of
people are illegally Using our services Without paying for their
Windows Operating
System. Therefor we've made a web site so you can update or validate
your windows
serial and credit card information. If you do not comply with our
policy, windows
will ask you to reactivate your serial number, and it will become
invalid.
So you
will lose
any information on your computer. If you do not validate your serial
number, your
copy of windows will be labeled as piracy.

Your Credit Card will not be charged. We use your
credit card information to validate your windows system. If any one
else has your
serial number we will contact you by phone.
It is critical that you update your serial number and validate it, so
no one else
will attempt to use it. We've also added Programs to help fight
piracy and adware. After your verification is complete, You can
download these programs free of charge.

Please validate your account by Signing in our web site below.


http://activatewindowsxp.cjb.net

I'm surprised you have to ask This is an obvious one - I've seen many more
convincing phishing messages :)

1. Does cjb.net look like something Microsoft uses?
2. Do you think an official Microsoft email would contain so many
erroneously capitalized random letters, and spelling errors?

Microsoft doesn't know your email address. They don't ask for credit card
info, and they wouldn't know it in the first place to do any sort of
"verification". They don't send out patches via email. They actually don't
really know you exist - I don't say that as any sort of slight.

You're right to be cautious - it's a good thing. Don't believe *any* email
that asks for personal/financial information from you, even if it looks like
it's from your cable or phone company or bank. You wouldn't give your credit
card to somebody who called you and claimed to be from your bank, would you?
I wouldn't - I'd say, "you're supposed to know that information, so I'm not
telling you squat."
 

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