Xbox LIVE will be down for a little while next week (June 16) to perform maintenance.  This maintenance is of course to prepare the console for many of the new features coming this Fall.  I know some of you are going to go crazy without a day of your precious Xbox LIVE.  The one thing about getting this maintenance message from Microsoft was that it caused another type of reminder for me.  The kind of reminder that is apparently needed from time to time about scams.

I’ve talked about ways that people are abusing the Xbox LIVE service with phishing scams.  A lot of what they do is that they make up what they want you to believe are “official” Gamertags of people who work within Microsoft.  I took a snapshot of what an official message looks like and I wanted to pass it along so that you all know what to believe and what not to.  The only message that carries the Xbox LIVE logo is an official one from the Xbox LIVE system.  You will not be able to reply to an official message.  There will only be an option to delete.  If you can reply to them, in all likelihood they’re trying to scam you.

More Tidbits of Information

- You will not be able to see an official message from the Xbox LIVE system online.  This means that you will be able to see fake messages from fake Gamertags online.

- No one from Microsoft will ever contact you via Xbox LIVE asking for personal information, attempting surveys or offering free points.  The only official messages generated are from the Xbox LIVE system pictured above.  

You can never have too much information out there to protect us from idiots so I hope this reminder helps.  Pass the word so that your friends don’t fall victim to this.  I know it seems like common sense but it’s continuing to happen so let’s help each other stay informed.