Microsoft Comp

[psycik]

i must admit its pretty damn convincing in many ways

He's slowly coming round, that glass of yours is filling up..

[bgowland]

I only ever claim 99.99% surety in situations like this (always leave a 'get out' clause ) but at that level I'd say these emails have nothing to do with MS whatsoever.

The MTA trails from the headers psycik and JonnyCam provided don't look like anything I've seen from any 'official' MS email. They're also completely different - two different hosting companies.

The only common element that I can see of significance is....

noreply@scratch-a-bonanza.co.nz

I haven't been able to find any definitive information on them yet. The domain name is hosted through hosting.co.nz though.

Cheers,
Brian

[stustunz]

i still live by
if it sounds to good to be true it is

well apart from gbpvr and im still waiting to see what the catch is

[JonnyCam]

It's very odd - seems quite elaborate for harvesting NZ email addresses - especially as it's only within one domain.

I half expected to have to fill out quote an intrusive form to "claim" a prize - which is where I would close the browser.

Anyway - the original email says:
"The Microsoft Scratch-a-Bonanza is our way of thanking you for being a vital part of the Microsoft community and agreeing to receive email and other communications from us."

Many, Many communications I guess!
Also -" You never know what lies beneath!" - Isn't that stolen from the Instand Kiwi ads!

[bgowland]

It's very odd - seems quite elaborate for harvesting NZ email addresses - especially as it's only within one domain.

Where did it say that you could only send it to addresses in your company's domain? Was it in the original email or at the website?

Cheers,
Brian

[JonnyCam]

Where did it say that you could only send it to addresses in your company's domain? Was it in the original email or at the website?

On the website - when I tied to put my partners email in - and it said must be from the same domain.

Cheers

[ACTCMS]

I'm still trying to figure out how you 'scratch' an email... do you actually rub your finger nail on the screen, or do you click on something in the email? serious question...

[psycik]

It takes you to a screen (have a look at scratch-a-bonanza.co.nz) and you get a "coin" and using your mouse you scratch over an image which reveals the underneath - kind of like using the eraser tool in a graphics program.

[stustunz]

only if your on their data base
and if your not then they ask you to send a email

[ACTCMS]

It takes you to a screen (have a look at scratch-a-bonanza.co.nz) and you get a "coin" and using your mouse you scratch over an image which reveals the underneath - kind of like using the eraser tool in a graphics program.

Sounds like a few things going on there - when you click on the link they get you as a live email address and when you scratch the image, they get some code running in your browser - could be harmless but not something I would go for.