How To View EMail Header Information In Windows Live Hotmail

Just yesterday I received what looks like one of those phishing email from someone claiming to be Paypal. For that matter I know it's a fake (I didn't purchase the item). Ever since I switched over to the new Windows Live Hotmail (from their classic version) I cannot find a way to view the header source information so I can really verify that this email is a fake.

Did Microsoft get rid of that option, or is it buried some where and I'm just not looking in the right spot?

Not surprising that you ALSO received a spoofed email from a lame spammer, phishing for unsuspected victims. When will they ever learn?

I'm also not surprised that you are having trouble finding a way to view email header information of a message in Hotmail. I even had to hunt for it, and turns out it's very simple to do.

Just follow these steps:

• Log on to your Windows Live Hotmail mailbox
• In the folder list (left pane), click Inbox.

• Then right click on the message in the message list, and select View source.

You should now see the header information for that message, similar to the below screen shot:

If you are unfamiliar with header information of a message, it provides a good way to view source and destination path information, the message traveled, as well as time stamps, IP Addresses, Addresses, and body information.

Although it's easy for spammers to forge parts of the information listed in the header, it can be useful when determining if a message is fake or real.

Overall, no matter what you find in the header information, the bottom line is never trust any email messages that ask for personal information or requires verification of bank and credit card accounts, login account of any kind or seeking information about yourself.

Unless you know the sender, your best bet is to use the phone and call the company to verify is the message is valid.