Email from SkyDrive: 20GB Free Offer For 1 Year - BOGUS?

[ChuckRushin]

Today I received an email from SkyDrive, offering 20GB Free for one year, "You're one of our most valued SkyDrive users, and one of a select group to receive this gift".

 

I clicked on the link to redeem the code which took me to the SkyDrive website.  It showed the code and I clicked the REDEEM button.  It said the code was accepted and that 20GB was added to my account.  However, nothing was added.  I tried to redeem again and it said the code had already been used.

 

I called Microsoft and was told they have no information regarding this any offer of this type.  I offered to send them the email but was told that would not be of any use.  She suggested I reply to the email, which came from <skydrive@email.microsoft.com>, which I did.

 

I have copied the body of the email below.  The "Subject" was "test, here's 20 GB for one year, free".  If anyone else has received this, please let me know if you had a similar experience.  Regardless of under what circumstances MS sent this email, they should honor it.

 

 

Thank you for using SkyDrive.

 

You're one of our most valued SkyDrive users, and one of a select group to receive this gift of an extra 20 GB for one year, free.

     

It's just our way of saying thanks. And stay tuned ? SkyDrive will soon become OneDrive with exciting updates that will make it even easier to store, share and collaborate across all of your favorite devices.

     

* Redeem by 3/31/2014. Offer is valid for one (1) year from date of redemption.

Microsoft respects your privacy. Review our online Privacy Statement.

To set your contact preferences for Microsoft communications, click here.

These settings will not affect any mandatory service communications that are considered part of certain Microsoft services.

Microsoft Corporation

One Microsoft Way

Redmond, WA 98052

[The Evil Overlord]

If it's fake microsoft don't have to do anything to honour it.

Like those fake paypal emails, the spammers use paypa(the capital letter I and not L)

So to someone not knowleged about it would assume it's the real thing

Rule of thumb, if something sounds too good to be true, it often is

[BajiRav]

No. I received one legitimate email a while ago. Make sure any/all links actually go to SkyDrive.com and not some phishing website.

 

Edit: See this: https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1193761-extra-20-gb-of-free-microsoft-skydrive-storage-for-one-year/

 

Your email looks different and may be a scam.

[TAZMINATOR]

Today I received an email from SkyDrive, offering 20GB Free for one year, "You're one of our most valued SkyDrive users, and one of a select group to receive this gift".[/size]

<quote truncated>

 

Microsoft never use "test" in the subject like you have that in email as mentioned above.

Edited January 27, 2014 by zhangm

[Rippleman]

Regardless of under what circumstances MS sent this email, they should honor it.

 

I got an email today from you (or so it says) saying that Neowin user "ChuckRushin" was giving away $1,000,000 to me as long as i replied saying how old I was. So I replied and still am waiting....

 

 

hint: email addresses can be spoofed, websites can be spoofed. Just becasue someone spoofed you doesn't mean the actual company should honor the agreement. If so, then I guess you owe me a million. :)

 

 

added: change your email password ASAP

[ChuckRushin]

Microsoft never use "test" in the subject like you have that in email as mentioned above. 

It's not a phishing email, it went to the legitimate microsoft site.  It verified my identity through the alternative email they have on file and send me the verification code.  This was prior to redeeming the code.

 

I think this was a "test" email that Microsoft mistakenly sent out to live recipients and it should not have been.  Either way, they offered and I will bug the poop out of them until I get my free storage  :)

 

Also notice it mentions the new brand "OneDrive".

[ChuckRushin]

No. I received one legitimate email a while ago. Make sure any/all links actually go to SkyDrive.com and not some phishing website.

 

Edit: See this: https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1193761-extra-20-gb-of-free-microsoft-skydrive-storage-for-one-year/

 

Your email looks different and may be a scam.

The email you mentioned from last December, I received that one too and claimed my additional storage.  So it's not unusual for MS to give out free storage to some users.  Right now I have my original 7GB plus 20GB I purchased and the additional 25GB free from last year.

[zhangm Supervisor]

Original post edited to remove an account-specific key from one of the links.

And fixed all the formatting tags that I broke. :(

[johnnyq3]

I have also received this email from MS, and I have gotten an addition 20GB.

[TAZMINATOR]

It's not a phishing email, it went to the legitimate microsoft site.  It verified my identity through the alternative email they have on file and send me the verification code.  This was prior to redeeming the code.

 

I think this was a "test" email that Microsoft mistakenly sent out to live recipients and it should not have been.  Either way, they offered and I will bug the poop out of them until I get my free storage   :)

 

Also notice it mentions the new brand "OneDrive".

 

They offered 20gb while back... and you tried to redeem it today?  Check and see if they have offer expiration date... maybe you were late to redeem it.

 

Edit:  nevermind.. I noticed the date in OP..

[Nas]

"test" is the first name on file with the associated Microsoft Account (very most likely).

 

Also, it is legit.  Just give it a few minutes (or hours) for the change to reflect into your account.

[#Michael]

Seems to be legit.  WPCentral is reporting it also: http://www.wpcentral.com/check-your-inbox-you-might-have-20gb-extra-skydrive

[PGHammer]

Seems to be legit.  WPCentral is reporting it also: http://www.wpcentral.com/check-your-inbox-you-might-have-20gb-extra-skydrive

It's legal as a non-Philadelphia eagle - I got the same e-mail before Christmas.

Quick query - how many of you that got the extra SkyDrive storage also got the free Skype credit deal (same time frame)?

 

(The "legal eagle" quote refers not to lawyers, but to the nesting pair of bald eagles found at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge reconstruction site - named, appropriately, George and Martha.)

[spenser.d]

It's legit - I got an email with 'test' in the subject, which I thought was weird, but it took me to the right place and redeemed a code to end up with this:

The enthusiast bonus was the one from December.

Should've waited til the end of March :p

[zhangm Supervisor]

Good to hear that this is real. Wish they'd throw one of these promos in my direction though. :p

[Ian S.]

It's real, http://www.winbeta.org/news/microsoft-offers-extra-20gb-skydrive-storage-select-users-amidst-onedrive-name-change

 

but I wish I got the email. Does this email apply to only those who download the Consumer Preview of Windows 8 the earliest? I have had Windows 8 since my Surface RT and did not receive the email :(

[flynempire]

Google is now offering and additional 20Gigs also. It is weird that the subject says test but it is legit.

Not everyone will get this but for the ones that do that is very cool.

[DanHull3]

Also if your a windows phone owner they throw in some freebies regarding Skydrive ;)