Microsoft is warning Windows Reside Hotmail consumers of the latest phishing rip-off that asks for that person's username, password,
HP Smart Array RAID controllers, date of birth, and country or territory. It's not clear why the software giant has taken the time to warn end users of this particular phishing rip-off, as this definitely isn't the first Microsoft- or Hotmail-related one. Hopefully,
Buy Windows 7, it has nothing to do with its success rate, but it's likely due to the fact that the e-mail claims it is from the Windows Live Hotmail team, both in the signature and at the start: "This Email is from Hotmail Customer Care and we are sending it to every Hotmail Email User Accounts Owner for safety."
I have not received the e-mail on either of my accounts, so perhaps the rip-off is not (yet?) widespread. The e-mail typically arrives from an @hotmail.com address and has the following subject: "Hotmail Warning (Verify Your Hotmail Account now To Avoid It Closed)." It blames congestion issues and claims the account will be suspended "for security reasons" if there is no response within 24 hours, and that the account will eventually be deleted in two weeks time. Make sure to warn your less tech-savvy friends and remind them that Microsoft (or any other major company for that matter) will never ask you for your personal information via an e-mail.
Further reading: Windows Stay Hotmail Technical Support Blog: Phishing Scam: Hotmail Warning (Verify Your Hotmail Account Now to Avoid it Closed)