The phishing and fake Windows Account Team email message below: "Account Activity - We Received Your Request to Close Your Account," is an attempt by cyber-criminals to steal Microsoft Hotmail, Outlook or Live users' credentials and personal information, which the cyber-criminals will use to hijack the accounts.
The Windows Account Team Phishing Email
Subject: Account Activity
Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2015 14:54:22 +0000
Dear User,
We received your request to close your account. If this request was sent by you then you do not need to take any further action and your account will be closed within 48hours. But if this request was not sent by you, kindly click on the cancel link below to cancel the request and sign into your account again to stop your account from being closed down.
Cancel
Thanks,
The Windows account team
The link in the fake email message goes to a fake web page created by cyber-criminals on a compromised website, to trick their potential victims into entering their username, password and personal information on it. If the potential victims enter their information on the fake website, it will be sent to the cyber-criminals behind the phishing email message, who will use it to hijack the victims’ accounts and use them fraudulently.
Never click on a link in an email message to sign into your email account. If you have already clicked on the link and followed the instructions on the fake and malicious web page, please change your password immediately.
If you are unable to change your password, please click here to report it to Microsoft.
Related article: