Spam or real?

[toprob]

I just got an email from "Ihug" about my webmail possibly being shutdown.
I believe it is spam but want another opinon or two

QUOTE

Dear clients of Ihug webmail,

Due to concerns for the safety and integrity of your Ihug webmail account, we
are bringing to your notice that we are presently upgrading Ihug webmail
account with effect From 02/02/2008-07/02/2008, we will be conducting a
scheduled routine maintenance that may affect email delivery notifications on
our transaction network and this maintenance might close your Ihug webmail
account completely if urgent upgrading is not ensured properly by Ihug
webmail provider's teams of engineers

This issue was raised 2 weeks ago. Please be rest assured that this will not
impact transactions adversely.

In other to prevent and protect your Ihug webmail account from being closed
down completely by our webmaster maintenance engineers, you are to therefore
advise to please forward your SURNAME, USERNAME and PASSWORD immediately for
upgrading.

Once we have updated your account current records will be sent your Online
Account and your service will not be interrupted and will continue working as
normal.

We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause you. We assure you more
quality service at the end of this maintenance. We're waiting for your
feedback to enable us resume on the upgrade.

Sincerely,
****** ******
Ihug Webmail Customercare Support[/quote]

the sending of a password seems extremely suspicious. I probably wouldn't reply even if it is true because I don't have anything to lose.
So what your thoughts on this.

[toprob]

A hoax.

[Kelburn]

spam. They never ask for passwords as they know these.

[Stumpy]

Thanks guys, message deleted, although they wouldn't gain much from having my email address. Good to have clarification

[Alex]

Yea, asking for passwords is a dead give-away usually. They [providers; Ihug in this case...] can change passwords on a whim if they really needed to get in.

Alex