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I usually can spot scam emails right off the bat, but I have to admit, this one almost got me.
I think the main reason I was so quick to believe was that my university actually had issued an announcement the same day saying the email system was undergoing some changes. I went as far as filling out my email address (I thought, "why do they need that when the message will show that?") and username (which is just the first part of the email address, so again, I was thinking, "huh?.."), then I got to "Password" and thought "total incompetence!" "They actually want me to send my password over email!" I think to check the email address, and sure enough, it was from one of those suspicious overseas domains. You know, the ones where all the spam and scam emails always seem to come from..
As Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody would say, "Constant Vigilance!"
Quote
Dear Webmail Account Owner,
This message is from the University Webmail Messaging Center to all email account owners.
We are currently carrying out scheduled maintenance,upgrade of our web mail service and we are changing our mail host server,as a result your original password will be reset.
We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.
To complete your webmail email account upgrade, you must reply to this email immediately and provide the information requested below.
*********************************************************************************
CONFIRM YOUR EMAIL IDENTITY NOW
E-mail Address:
User Name/ID:
Password:
Re-type Password:
************************************************************************************
Failure to do this will immediately render your email address deactivated from the University Webmail.
************************************************************************************
This E-mail is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended Recipient please accept our apologies; Please do not Disclose, Copy or Distribute Information in this E-mail or take any action in Reliance on its contents: to do so is strictly prohibited and may be Unlawful.
Please inform us that this Message has gone astray before deleting it.
Thank you for your Co-operation.
Copyright ©2011 University Webmaster. All Rights Reserved
This message is from the University Webmail Messaging Center to all email account owners.
We are currently carrying out scheduled maintenance,upgrade of our web mail service and we are changing our mail host server,as a result your original password will be reset.
We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.
To complete your webmail email account upgrade, you must reply to this email immediately and provide the information requested below.
*********************************************************************************
CONFIRM YOUR EMAIL IDENTITY NOW
E-mail Address:
User Name/ID:
Password:
Re-type Password:
************************************************************************************
Failure to do this will immediately render your email address deactivated from the University Webmail.
************************************************************************************
This E-mail is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended Recipient please accept our apologies; Please do not Disclose, Copy or Distribute Information in this E-mail or take any action in Reliance on its contents: to do so is strictly prohibited and may be Unlawful.
Please inform us that this Message has gone astray before deleting it.
Thank you for your Co-operation.
Copyright ©2011 University Webmaster. All Rights Reserved
I think the main reason I was so quick to believe was that my university actually had issued an announcement the same day saying the email system was undergoing some changes. I went as far as filling out my email address (I thought, "why do they need that when the message will show that?") and username (which is just the first part of the email address, so again, I was thinking, "huh?.."), then I got to "Password" and thought "total incompetence!" "They actually want me to send my password over email!" I think to check the email address, and sure enough, it was from one of those suspicious overseas domains. You know, the ones where all the spam and scam emails always seem to come from..
As Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody would say, "Constant Vigilance!"
