Is this a scam or is it for real?

[Rolf Turner]

I just got an email message purporting (and indeed appearing, as far as
I can tell) to come from "texhax-request at tug.org")  but having the
appearance (to my eye) of being a scam.

The subject line of the message was:

>  confirm 97f0e35586e8e2ffd1f3e442478c874348aeefaf

and the body of the message was is given below (after my sign-off). Can
anyone explain to me what is going on?  What would induce "excessive
bounces"?  Would I expose myself to danger by replying to the messages
as suggested?

I am disturbed by the fact that my members password is given "in plain"
in the message.  Surely this is a security risk (supposing that the
message is genuine).

Please reply to me directly rather than via the list, on the chance
that the message is for real whence I "will not get any more messages
from this list until [I] e-enable [my] membership".

Thanks.

cheers,

Rolf Turner

Body of the message that I find to be suspicious:
=================================================

> Your membership in the mailing list texhax has been disabled due to
> excessive bounces The last bounce received from you was dated
> 23-Jun-2021.  You will not get any more messages from this list until
> you re-enable your membership.  You will receive 2 more reminders like
> this before your membership in the list is deleted.
> 
> To re-enable your membership, you can simply respond to this message
> (leaving the Subject: line intact), or visit the confirmation page at
> 
>     https://tug.org/mailman/confirm/texhax/97f0e35586e8e2ffd1f3e442478c874348aeefaf
> 
> 
> You can also visit your membership page at
> 
>     https://tug.org/mailman/options/texhax/r.turner%40auckland.ac.nz
> 
> On your membership page, you can change various delivery options such
> as your email address and whether you get digests or not.  As a
> reminder, your membership password is
> 
>     ######## (I have deleted this for security reasons --- R.T.)
> 
> If you have any questions or problems, you can contact the list owner
> at
> 
>     texhax-owner at tug.org

-- 
Honorary Research Fellow
Department of Statistics
University of Auckland
Phone: +64-9-373-7599 ext. 88276