Here’s an email received by someone I know whose response to it resulted in complete loss of control of the associated email account. It’s been two days and this person still can’t get into the email account to check mail or send it.

From: OSUTEAM from OSUTEAM with a chartermi.net account - first clue that there’s a problem
Date: March 21, 2008 7:01:20 PM EST
To: Undisclosed recipients: ;
Subject: VERIFY YOUR OSU EMAIL NOW any attempt to “verify” is generally bad news
Reply-To: upgradeservice@live.com Reply to a different email address? Alarms are sounding!

Dear OSU Email Owner, Big tipoff here. Should be personalized.

This message is from OSU messaging center to all OSU emailEmail owners. We are currently upgrading our data base and e-mail center. We are deleting all unused OSUemail to create more space for new one. To prevent your account from closing you will have to update it below so that we will know that it’s a present used account.

I would think that The Ohio State University would refer to itself as such and not as “OSU.” How about “emailEmail owners” or “present used account” - spelling and grammatical mistakes indicate that this is coming from a foreigner. OSU’s “email center” would be the first one to evaluate whether your account is being used or not - no verification required.

CONFIRM YOUR EMAIL BELOW
EMAIL USERNAME :
EMAIL PASSWORD :
CONFIRM EMAIL PASSWORD:
YOUR FIRST / LAST NAME:
DATH OF BIRTH :
COUNTRY OR TERRITORY :

Warning!!! Email owner that refuses to update his or her Email,within Seven days of receiving this warning will lose his or her Email permanently.

Look for capitalization issues as well - also indicates that this is a foreigner trying to hijack your email account.

Thanks,
OSUTEAM
OSU

OSUTEAM - who at Ohio State refers to themselves as the “OSUTEAM?” This email is outright fraud. Look for the warning signs and don’t respond to any email that asks for your password

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