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PHISHING ALERT!! - Happy Birthday Windows Vista Email Offer
If you woke up to this email today, followed the links and logged into your Live account to check it out, I'd suggest you change your Live password ASAP as you've just been phished! It's been cleverly done because the email's links take you to the real Live.com login, but they also contain code to forward your details to the bogus domain's email server.
The full email transcript follows (links removed)
Happy Birthday Windows Vista!
As we approach the one year anniversary of launching Windows Vista® we want to remember you as one of the many people who downloaded and tested one of the Windows Vista Beta or Release Candidates through TechNet or MSDN®.YOU were a significant contributor to the development of Windows Vista. Your participation was extremely valuable to Microsoft, and we would like to say, “Thank You!”
To show our appreciation, we have several special offers exclusively available to you.
Offer 1: The ULTIMATE OFFER
Just go to your favorite retail or online store and purchase a standalone, full package Windows Vista Ultimate product, full or upgrade version, and we will match that with a second, complimentary Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade product key. We will honor a copy you purchased, and first activated, after December 1, 2007. Hurry! This offer expires on January 15, 2008.
To take advantage of this great offer, simply follow these steps:
Go to (link removed).
Sign in using the same Windows Live ID that you used to download the beta or release candidate versions of Windows Vista.
Follow the instructions to locate the Product ID on the computer running the qualifying copy Windows Vista Ultimate that you recently purchased.
Enter that Product ID into the online form.
We will then provide you with a Windows Vista Ultimate upgrade key, so you can install Windows Vista Ultimate onto a second machine. (The second machine must have Windows XP or a version of Windows Vista already installed in order to upgrade)
Please note that this key is NOT for resale, although you may give it as a gift to a friend or colleague. Limit one complimentary key per person. Windows Vista Ultimate Academic and Student versions are not included in this promotion.
Offer 2: We also have one hundred $250 gift certificates to give away!
To thank you for helping make Windows Vista the most reliable Windows® yet, taking a short online survey and you be entered to win a $250 Amazon gift certificate (US store, shipping worldwide) to spend however you wish.
Take the short survey here: (link removed)and we will include your name for a chance to win. The survey is anonymous but we need your name for the prize. Of course, we respect your privacy. All entries must be completed by January 15, 2008
Offer 3: Would you like a truly unique computer personally signed by Bill Gates?
We’d like to give you the opportunity to own a truly unique computer. This computer is the ASUS W5fe. It is very powerful, small, light weight and incorporates the Windows SideShow™ technology. Each one is personally signed by Bill Gates. We have ten available, but you can only enter to win if you participated in the Windows Vista Beta or Release Candidates through TechNet or MSDN.
Simply come to (link removed), tell us how you put Windows Vista to work along with your top tips and best practices to get going with Windows Vista today. We’ll select the top ten entries to be published. (Only one story per participant, please.)
All entries must be completed by January 15, 2008
And in closing, there is so much written about Windows Vista, how do you sort through and find the right information at the right time, and with the right technical depth? Visit Microsoft’s newest TechNet resource: Windows Vista Springboard—the onramp for IT Pros.
Thank again for participating in the Windows Vista Beta Program!
Thank you!
Celine Allee
Director, Windows Client
P.S. We would also like to remind you about TechNet Plus. Whenever you subscribe to TechNet Plus, you get full-version software licensed for evaluation purposes. This includes a variety of Microsoft commercial software including:
Microsoft Operating Systems (Windows Vista®, Windows Server® 2003, Windows Small Business Server).
Servers (e.g. Microsoft Exchange Server2007, SQL Server® 2005, BizTalk® Server, Commerce Server, Live Communication Server).
Microsoft Office System (2007 Microsoft Office Release, InfoPath®, OneNote®, Visio®, Project).
For Complete benefits of a TechNet subscription please check this site
* All of these offers are available only to named recipients of this offer who participated in the Windows Vista Beta or Release Candidates through TechNet or MSDN. These offers are non-transferable and are limited to one each per person. See offer websites for specific rules.
The whois record for the domain used shows:
Whois Registrant:
Cybage Software Pvt. Ltd
West Avenue, Kalyani Nagar
Pune, Maharashtra 411006
IN
+91.2066041700
+91.2066041701
Domain Name: WINDOWSVISTAEVALCOMP.COM
Administrative & Technical Contact:
Deepak Nathani
Cybage Software Pvt. Ltd
West Avenue, Kalyani Nagar
Pune, Maharashtra 411006
IN
+91.2066041700
+91.2066041701
Domain Name Servers:
NS2.PAIRNIC.COM
NS1.PAIRNIC.COM
Transfer-Lock Status: ENABLED
Created: July 27, 2007
Modified: July 27, 2007
Expires: July 27, 2008
Re: PHISHING ALERT!! - Happy Birthday Windows Vista Email Offer
That's very well written, and extremely clever. Would some people fall for this letter?
Quote:
Just go to your favorite retail or online store and purchase a standalone, full package Windows Vista Ultimate product, full or upgrade version, and we will match that with a second, complimentary Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade product key.
Really? Like they're gonna give you a second complimentary Ultimate Upgrade key...
Re: PHISHING ALERT!! - Happy Birthday Windows Vista Email Offer
Looks pretty legit to me...
I've just read the e-mail, and I didn't once think "gee, this looks pretty dodgy". I'm yet to see social engineering/scam/phishing e-mails that don't have a ton of English, spelling, and grammar errors. This one looks pretty readable.
I've just logged into the site (just seconds before looking at this post), and am going to have a look at the second offer.
Re: PHISHING ALERT!! - Happy Birthday Windows Vista Email Offer
Quote:
As we approach the one year anniversary of launching Windows Vista® we want to remember you as one of the many people who downloaded and tested one of the Windows Vista Beta or Release Candidates through TechNet or MSDN®.YOU were a significant contributor to the development of Windows Vista. Your participation was extremely valuable to Microsoft, and we would like to say, “Thank You!”
Re: PHISHING ALERT!! - Happy Birthday Windows Vista Email Offer
I used bogus data and attempted to register for this at live.com - once registered all I got afterwards was the server error - tried it a few times using different browsers and got the same result.
Also, why hasn't it come through the MVP channel or shown up in MSDN or as a Connect news item? And why would MS register a new domain through some guy in India 5 months ago to run this promotion?
Sorry but it if looks like a phish and smells like a phish . . .
Re: PHISHING ALERT!! - Happy Birthday Windows Vista Email Offer
you guys have made the OCAU front page with this - better make sure it's actually a phishing scam - but it does look like one to me that's for sure. Maybe a rogue Cybage employee???
Check that link again. Confirmed by Microsoft to be fake. Here's an email someone received from Microsoft asking about it.
Quote:
Hello Dane,
Thank you for contacting Microsoft Customer Service.
I understand from your message that you received an e-mail stating that there are special offers on the occasion of first anniversary of launching Windows Vista by Microsoft to its customers and you require to know whether the e-mail is valid or not.
Thank you for taking time to write us about this issue. I would like to inform you that the e-mail you have received is a Hoax and did not originate from Microsoft and should be deleted. Microsoft is not in any way engaged in holding such an offer or promotions of this nature.
Re: PHISHING ALERT!! - Happy Birthday Windows Vista Email Offer
Bummer, I was fooled. I responded over a week ago now, Im still waiting for my free key. After reading this post, I'll change me passwords. Just to let you know, nothing bad has happened to my live services yet, I'll change my password anyways.
Re: PHISHING ALERT!! - Happy Birthday Windows Vista Email Offer
Well the good news is that this is NOT a scam.
I figured I would proceed with things and be a test subject so I could confirm or deny for every one else, the results are good and I got my key today!
Below is the email I received:
Congratulations! The Product ID you submitted has been validated and is eligible for the Windows Vista Ultimate Offer. Here are the instructions to retrieve your new Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade Product Key.
You may use it for any machine you choose, provided, there is already a copy of Windows XP or Windows Vista installed and activated on that machine. If performing a "clean" installation, you must have your original disc available.
To retrieve your product key, please visit http://www.windowsvistaevalcomp.com and log in using the email address used for your original offer submission. You will be directed to the page that includes the new product key. We strongly recommend you print this email and that page for future reference.
Thank you for your participation in the Windows Vista Ultimate Offer.
Re: PHISHING ALERT!! - Happy Birthday Windows Vista Email Offer
Cool, Thanks TheLoon. I recieved 2 of those emails because I have two copies of Vista. Even tho I still havent recieve the Key from the first one, (I submitted it over a week ago now) I'll fill out the second email, to get my second free key, But I'll change my passwords agin afterwards just to be sure. I'm wondering, has anyone else recieved their free key yet?
)
Re: PHISHING ALERT!! - Happy Birthday Windows Vista Email Offer
