Hotmail accounts being hacked

HOTMAIL ACCOUNTS ARE BEING HACKED

I received an email yesterday. The FROM: indicated a name of my close friend

The Subject: EMERGENCY!

The Body:

I am sorry I did not inform you about my traveling to the UK for a program, called "Empowering Youth to Fight
Racism,HIV/AIDS,and Lack of Education". The program has been on, in three major countries in Europe which are
Dublin,Scotland and England,I am presently in England.
Unfortunately, I misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel where my money,and other valuable items were kept.I
would like you to assist me with a soft loan urgently, with the sum of $950 US Dollars. So I can sort-out my hotel
bills and get myself back home.
I will appreciate whatever you can afford,I'll be able to pay you back as soon as I return. If you can assist the
information below is what you will use to send the western union or Money Gram, so I can be able to pick up in a
minute with my ID [International passport].
I will be able to pay you back as soon as I return, thanks in advance.

Name: (for privacy I have deleted my friend's name)
COUNTRY -UNITED KINGDOM
CITY -- LONDON
ADDRESS--Poppyland Norman Rd, St Margarets Bay, Dover, CT15 6DA.UK



I thought this lookED suspicious

1) I knew my friend was not in England

2) Knowing this person she would not have to contact me for funds

I checked the properties of the eamil to see if it came from my friend-everything looked in order.

I called my friend. The phone was answered with: "You got the email too?'

It turned out that the Hotmail account had been hacked and then frozen. My friend could no longer access any email addresses in the computer to let his/her list know about this.

The FBI has been called. They also informed my friend that this is not the first case of this and it is being ivestigated.