Outlook Phishing Email Deactivation and Deletion Scam - "Microsoft Account Update"
The email message below:"Microsoft Account Update," which claims that a request was sent to deactivate or delete the recipients' accounts, and they need to click on a link within the same message to cancel the request, is a phishing scam designed to steal Microsoft user names and passwords. The email message was not sent by Microsoft, but by cyber-criminals, whose intentions are to hijack email accounts and use them for malicious purposes. So, recipients of the same email message are advised to delete and do not follow the instructions in it.
The Phishing Microsoft Email Message
Subject: Microsoft Account Update!!!
From: Microsoft Account Team (servicealert004@outlook.com)
To: Microsoft Account Team
MICROSOFT! SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Dear Account Owner,
1. You requested your Microsoft Email Account on Apr 09, 2014 at 12:00 PM CS to be deactivated and deleted from this IP: 91.216.55.150
2. Click on (SIGN-IN) to cancel this request; else your email
will be deactivated and deleted within 48 hours
3. Do not share your password with anyone for your security purpose.
Thank You for Being A Loyal Microsoft Account User.
We hope you enjoy our newest version.
Microsoft Account Authority.
The link in the email message goes to a fake Outlook or Microsoft website, which will attempt to trick the cyber-criminals' potential victims into entering their usernames and passwords on it.
If the potential victims enter their Microsoft Outlook, Hotmail, Live usernames and passwords on the fake website, it will be sent to the cyber-criminals behind the email scam, who will use the information to hijack their accounts.
If you have received the same email message, please go directly to your email account instead of clicking on the links in the email message. And, if there is anything wrong with your account, it will be shown to you after signing into account.
If you were tricked by the phishing email, please change your Microsoft Hotmail/Live/Outlook immediately. If you are unable to, click here to report it to Microsoft.
This scam is similar to the following:
- Outlook Phishing Scam: "Final Warning (Account Will Be Closed) "
- Microsoft Outlook Phishing Scam: Immediate Attention Required
- Hotmail Reset Confirmation 2014 - Phishing Email Scam
- Hotmail Account Reset Alert Confirmation 2013
- Phishing or Fake Emails: Account Close Alert
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Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.