OKAY - I know this is a scam but how and why?

[Bobbieo]

ATTENTION: WEBMAIL SUBSCRIBER: This mail is to inform all our {WEBMAIL} users that we will be upgrading our site in a couple of days from now. So you as a Subscriber of our site you are required to send us your Email account details so as to enable us know if you are still making use of your mail box. Further informed that we will be deleting all mail account that is not functioning so as to create more space for new user. so you are to send us your mail account details which are as follows:

*User name:
*Password:
*Date of Birth:

Failure to do this will immediately render your email address deactivated from our
database. Your response should be send to the following e-mail address. Your Admin
Manager: [e-mail] Yours In Service. Mr fred johnson

[WillParkinson]

1. To reroute your mail...

If you get stuff from banks, etc.

I've seen people do stupid stuff because it looked official.

[RufusTFirefly]

2. One obvious giveway. It should refer to you by your actual name

Or by your username at the very least.

Why is it a scam? Well, because you will be sending them access to your e-mail account. They'll have all they need to read your mail and nominally snatch your identity. And heaven knows what sort of database doors your birthday will unlock.

[Brazenly Liberal]

3. Look carefully at all links/email addresses

not what they say, but where they really go. Chances are excellent they don't really go to hotmail.

If you right click and select "copy link location" and then paste it somewhere - a text doc or whatevs - you can see where it really goes without running the risks inherent in going there.

[EFerrari]

4. Good eye, Bobbie! Forward the whole thing to hotmail.

:hi:

[Bobbieo]

7. EF - Sent it on to Hotmail - Thanx

[GoneOffShore]

5. Pretty easy to figure out

Syntax has some seriously egregious errors, which is the big tipoff.
Second they are asking for your date of birth, your password and your user name.

[Canuckistanian]

6. Never give out your username/password together

They already know that information, why would you have to resend it?

And the birthdate thing would send me running.