Targeted phishing of Playstation Network victims begins?

UPDATE May 6, 2011, 14:07 ET Michael Oliveira (thanks!) has suggested that this is a legit email, even though the links go to a third party rather than a Sony domain – often a clear giveaway for phishing. In this case, Michael points out the third party does appear to be legit. However, the email was also suspicious to me because it for an SR number (which I was never given), moreover I don’t remember giving Sony my details when I called about the hack. Either way, you’d think Sony would do a better job making their emails look authentic given how careful people are now being.

Playstation sent me an email on April 27 to tell me that my information had probably been stolen in the hack, but couldn’t confirm anything. But it became pretty obvious when I started receiving way more spam than usual, including the following elaborate, targeted phishing email, playing on the fact that people have probably been calling Sony to get information about the hack. Not really a surprise, though:

Sony Computer Entertainment America:

Customer Satisfaction and Product Service Survey

***Please do not reply to this message. This is a system-generated email and your message will not be read.***

Dear KATE RAYNES-GOLDIE,

Thank you for your recent contact to Sony Computer Entertainment America Consumer Services Department for support with your PlayStation® system. We are very interested to hear about the service you received and would appreciate your feedback regarding your support experience.

We continually strive to provide you with high quality support and service and your comments and suggestions enable us to better serve your future needs. Please take a moment to complete this brief survey. (Completion time is five minutes or less). You will need either your 9-11 digit Service Request number (e.g. SR Number 1-xxxxxxxxx or W-xxxxxxxxx), or the phone number and area code you provided when you contacted us. To begin, please click the link below.

Click here to take this survey

We are unable to respond to replies sent to this survey email account, nor are we able to contact you directly if requested us to do so via your survey response. If you are in need of additional assistance regarding your PlayStation® system, please contact us at:

Email Consumer Services

Phone: 1-800-345-7669

Hours of Operation:

Monday through Saturday 6:00am – 8:00pm

Sunday 7:00am through 6:30pm


We appreciate the time taken to give us your thoughts and suggestions.

Sincerely,

PlayStation Consumer Services

Sony Computer Entertainment America

DON’T KNOW THE SENDER?

======================

You are receiving this email because you contacted SCEA for assistance with your PlayStation® system. If you believe you received this email in error, please contact Sony Computer Entertainment America Consumer Services Department at http://www.us.playstation.com/Corporate/ContactUs/ConsumerServices.

To unsubscribe from future PlayStation® surveys please click here.

Information provided will only be used to enhance customer experience and is not used to sell any products or services. To view our Privacy Policy, please visit http://www.us.playstation.com/support.aspx?id=privacypolicy.

Sony Computer Entertainment America 919 E. Hillsdale Blvd. Foster City, CA 94404

Targeted phishing of Playstation Network victims begins?

2 Responses

  1. Unprotected links! You monster.

    The signature at the end is a really good closing touch. Not to mention I’m used to receiving email in broken or nonsensical English so the bar has been lowered.

    For the people on PSN who had their credit card information stolen: were they storing their cerdit card info with the account or were one-time transaction records stolen as well? I never associate my credit card with an online account unless it’s a recurring bill.

    wabasso May 7, 2011 at 2:02 am #
  2. @wabasso lol if you click those links after reading the title, well…. yeah.

    kate raynes-goldie May 7, 2011 at 2:05 am #

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