Recurring Hotmail message

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vegeddabowdit - 20 Apr 2005 07:22 GMT

I use OE to download my Hotmail.

I have several Hotmail accounts, but for one in particular I have been
receiving messages from "Hotmail Staff" every day since February 25,
2005.

The following is from the message source
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------
X-Hotpop-Folder: inbox
From: "Hotmail Staff" <staff@hotmail.com>
To: <myusername@hotmail.com>
Subject: Please visit hotmail.com
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.3790.132

<html><body><table border=3D0 cellpadding=3D3 cellspacing=3D0 =
width=3D"640" align=3D"center"><tr><td style=3D"border-bottom:1px solid
=
#000099"><img src=3D"http://64.4.55.45/lgo_msn_215x39.gif" width=3D215 =
height=3D39 border=3D0></td></tr><tr><td><br><p>Dear . .<p>To help =
protect our users from automatically generated junk e-mail (or spam), =
MSN Hotmail periodically asks for identity verification.<p>Please go to
=
<a href=3D"http://g.msn.com/1HMDEN/13292??PS=3D&DI=3D7474" =
target=3D"_top">http://www.hotmail.msn.com</a> and follow the =
instructions. It takes only a few minutes and you can then return to =
using your Hotmail account. <p>Thank you for helping us to help reduce =
your junk e-mail.<br>
Sincerely,<br>
MSN Hotmail Staff<br><p>Please do not reply to this e-mail as this is an
=
unmonitored alias.</td></tr></table></body></html>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------

I was immediately dubious about the request, and at the time tried to
investigate the validity of the message, but none of the feedback I
received reported anything phishy.

It was suggested it might have something to do with the new MSN
hotmail/OE related policy.

Meanwhile, ever since, the only folder that shows in OE for this account
is the inbox, &, to this day, when I try to login to this account
online, I am informed thusly:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------
Please Try Again

Microsoft® .NET Passport was temporarily unable to complete your
request. Please try again later.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------

I am able to access my profile, & was successful in changing the
password, but it made no difference.

All my other Hotmail accounts are fine.

Has anyone had a similar experience?

~J

Reply to this Message

PA Bear - 20 Apr 2005 20:38 GMT

The message you received is legit though clicking on the link it contains
may take you nowhere.

I've come to the conclusion that the Hotmail address of users in your
situation has been hijacked by a Trojan and is being used to spread itself.
(NB: This doesn't mean /your/ machine is Trojan-infected.)

When you get the "Try Again" message when attempting to open or poll the
account in OE, log on to the account at www.hotmail.com before trying again
and you /should/ be successful, at least that one time.

If the problem persists, I suggest (1) abandoning the account or (2) signing
up for Hotmail Plus
(http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-us&page=hotmail/es&ST=1&xAPID=1983&DI=1402).

You can contact MSN/Hotmail support via
http://support.msn.com/contactus_emailsupport.aspx?productkey=hotmail&ct=eformts

OT: Please visit Windows Update ASAP.

Signature

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE) & Security

> I use OE to download my Hotmail.
>
[quoted text clipped - 62 lines]
>
> ~J

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vegeddabowdit - 21 Apr 2005 04:38 GMT

> When you get the "Try Again" message when attempting to open or poll the
> account in OE, log on to the account at www.hotmail.com before trying again
> and you /should/ be successful, at least that one time.

That's where I've been trying all along with no luck.

Unlike logging into my other accounts, after entering my password for
this one I'm taken to a "Match The Picture" prompt, and subsequently the
"Try Again" message.

If I then go back to the login page & change the user name to another
account & try to sign in, I am told

"You Are Already Signed In"
You can:
. Sign out of this .NET Passport and sign in as
"mysurename@hotmail.com".
. Remain signed in with this .NET Passport.

> If the problem persists, I suggest (1) abandoning the account or (2) signing
> up for Hotmail Plus

Looks like that's where I'm at.

Thanks

~J

Reply to this Message

PA Bear - 21 Apr 2005 19:49 GMT

Contact MSN/Hotmail Email Support about your issue:
http://support.msn.com/contactus_emailsupport.aspx?productkey=hotmail&ct=eformts

Signature

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE) & Security

> > When you get the "Try Again" message when attempting to open or poll the
> > account in OE, log on to the account at www.hotmail.com before trying
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> ~J

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