New MSN Messenger account - worrying request to be on the "buddy list"
I got myself a new Hotmail address the other day when the new @hotmail.co.uk addresses became available on the web. I wanted to have something easier to remember than my current @hotmail.com address, and wanted to use the @hotmail.co.uk Instant Messaging address to add to my e-mail signature at work. The first time I signed into MSN Messenger 24 hours later, I had a request from someone (b**b***2*****@hotmail.co.uk) wanting to be added to my MSN messenger contact list. I'd never heard of this person, and when I checked my Hotmail e-mail account, there were 2 messages from the same email address telling me I was added as a friend and asking to be placed onto my MSN buddy list. Fortunately Hotmail had identified both of these messages as spam, and junked them.
But, I wondered, how many other "recognisable" names had this request been sent to? Both of my messages ended with "xxxxxxxxxxxx, hope you'll add me to your contact list". I hope that everyone just treats this as spam and ignores it. I've already reported it.
But if there are any parents out there, whose child may have had a similar request to add a stranger to their contact list, please could you make your child aware that this scam is happening - just in case.