Phishing at its most basic level

[Frog]

We've all seen it at some point or another, but I thought that I'd share the fourth attempt in the last few weeks to convince me to give up my personal information.
The first three informed me that I would lose my service as they were updating and re-configuring their goodies and just needed my info so that I would continue to receive service!

Today, I got this lame attempt.

Dear Astound.net Webmail User,


This message is from Astound.net technical guide team, we
are really sorry for any inconvenience that we making you
pass through right now, we are having some problems with our
database due to our recent upgrade and we can't find your
data, please we need to rectify this problem as soon as
possible if not you won’t be able to send or receive email
with your mail address.

Please fill the form below so that we can rectify this
problem as soon as possible and send it back to us.

EMAIL   :..................
USERNAME:..................
PASSWORD:..................
CONFIRM PASSWORD:..................

NOTE: Your data and information will not be interfered with
or tampered. We will just record your data back into our
data base within 24hours. You will be compensated for all
inconvenience.

Thank you for using Astound.net services

Technical guide for Astound.net webmail services.

[squeezee]

  I'm convinced.

[ftembroidery]

Much better grammar than most attempts to get sensitive information and/or money.

[tpitman]

Over the years I've gotten a couple of emails from my "bank" requesting personal information for "confirmation" or some such bs. The email piece, or the site from a link in the email, looked exactly like the bank's homepage, but with the missing "s" in the "https" part of the address signifying a secured site. I'm sure there were more than a few who responded without noticing that particular nugget.

[screenxpress]

Much better grammar than most attempts to get sensitive information and/or money.

Maybe.  Looked pretty weak on sentence structure and content.

[Frog]

Much better grammar than most attempts to get sensitive information and/or money.

Actually, though my expectations from the writers at the real local cable company are not that high either, this particular message  is mostly one huge run-on sentence.

At least, that's what everyone's favorite fourth grade teacher says.

[screenxpress]

Is astound.net really your service provider?

[Frog]

Cable, Internet, and phones
Interestingly, we are one of the few places that has two cable companies, Astound and Comcast.

[Denis Kolar]

Got this one in today

Where are they coming up with this sh!t?

[mk162]

Looks legit, i'd send them some money before they issue a bench warrant.   

[screenxpress]

Got this one in today

Where are they coming up with this sh!t?

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Police-warn-against-traffic-ticket-email-hoax-2077027.php

[squeezee]

I got a call with an Indian accent from 'your computer support supplier', 'your computer is showing up on the internet as being full of viruses and malware'
me: so you are from Microsoft?
them: 'yes, we are your computer support supplier'
'Can you switch your computer on?'
me: 'OK, it's very old, it'll take about 5 minutes to boot' (which is about how long it takes to make a pot of coffee)
'OK, I'm up'
She asked me to bring up the event logs etc. to point out the critical errors on my PC that they would fix for $185.  Funnily enough none of the keys on my PC seemed to work, the line was really bad and she had to keep repeating the instructions.
After 15 minutes she passed me to her supervisor who quickly worked out that I was taking the piss and launched a tirade of abuse in Anglo-Saxon that put his command of English to shame.
It's laughable really and I did laugh at him, but this stuff does generate money for these crooks.
Knowledge is the key.