Hotmail/Windows Live Messenger scam

kibrissibel


Joined: 18/02/2008
Posts: 562

Message Posted:
31/03/2009 18:46

Over the last few days I've had 3 suspicious emails allegedly from Hotmail/Windows Live Messenger stating that I have to reply to the emails with my date of birth, hotmail account name, password, bust measurement (only joking about the last one!) otherwise my account will be closed. I've contacted Windows re this and it is a scam.



Sibel

scruffdog


Joined: 09/12/2008
Posts: 742

Message Posted:
31/03/2009 18:52

I'm with hotmail and someone has hacked into my account, wiped my contact list and for 2nd time in a week sent an e-mail to my all my original contacts plus anyone who had e-mailed me, ie bank, magazine and a couple of web sites I enrolled in years ago. Do not know what to do about it, anyone any ideas?

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
31/03/2009 19:53

Yep, the joy of running Windows version.x on a PC...



For a PC: a zillion hackers and 900.000 known virusses, Trojan horses and other malicious software.



For Macintosh: (a better computer and) only 85 known virusses...



Mac: the satisfying joy of belonging to a minority...

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
31/03/2009 19:58

Dutch

And not so much software unless you run a windows emulation package which strangely enough everyone I know that has a Mac does. Defeating the object?

AJ

david123


Joined: 07/07/2008
Posts: 393

Message Posted:
31/03/2009 19:59

Hi all,



Yes have to agree with Dutch, never had any prob's with mac.



David.

Newboy


Joined: 21/02/2008
Posts: 80

Message Posted:
31/03/2009 20:02

Failed as usual, turn the thread around, no help to scruffdog.







Ray

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
31/03/2009 20:11

scruffdog,

Did Hotmail offer any advice? - if not -

In the abscence of more 'informed opinion' (i.e. someone who knows more than I do - not difficult!) I'd be inclined to close the hotmail account, and use your gmail account to tell everyone (assuming you still have, or can re-assemble, the contact list) that the email account was hi-jacked, and to treat anything purporting to originate from it as spam

Unfortunately, this is something we have to contend with these days - I sometimes get spam that appears to originate from myself! - and unless I'm sleepwalking (or the Gin-induced blackouts are getting worse...) it simply means that someone has found my email address (not difficult if it's shown on a forum!) and is 'spoofing' the header - see: -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-mail_spoofing

I don't worry about it anymore, most people that I email are sufficiently 'savvy' to be able to spot this sort of thing.

Best to warn everyone tho'

Regards

Keith

p.s. Hi Sibel - 32 A cup?

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
31/03/2009 20:12

RE msg 4, AJ > And not so much software unless you run a windows emulation package which strangely enough everyone I know that has a Mac does. Defeating the object? <



===> Wrong, AJ. Older Macs can run Windows emulation software (like VirtualPC and others), but modern Macs run both Operating Systems (XP/Vista/OS 10.4.x/10.5/x) without a problem.



PS. I sometimes use Windows Vista on my Mac, because Turk Bank didn't make Internet banking possible for Macintosh. OK, Macs and Mac users are flexible ( ), so there's no problem.