The email message below with subject: "Final Warning - Microsoft Account Update," which claims that the recipients' email messages have been placed on hold due to them using the old version of Microsoft Outlook, is a phishing scam created to steal Microsoft Hotmail, Live or Outlook user names and passwords. The email message was not sent by Microsoft, but by cyber-criminals, whose intentions are to gain access to the potential victims' accounts by hijacking them and then using them fraudulently.
A Sample of the "Microsoft Account Update" Phishing Email
From: Microsoft Account 0227lcy@naver.com
Sent: Thursday, December 1, 2016 1:14 AM
Subject: FINAL WARNING:ID:137-Microsoft Account Update
Microsoft
Dear Outlook User,
This is to inform you that your incoming emails was placed on hold due to you are using our old version of Microsoft Outlook,
If you choose not to update your account on or before 26th November, 2016, your account will be permanently deleted from our data base.
Take a minute to update your account for a faster, safer and full-featured Microsoft Outlook experience.
Click Here To Update Your Outlook Account
Thank You for Being A Loyal Outlook Mail User
We hope you enjoy the newest version of Outlook.
Microsoft Account Team
©2016 Microsoft Inc. All Rights Reserved
The link in the email message goes to a fake Microsoft Hotmail website, which will attempt to trick the 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, the information will be sent to the cyber-criminals behind the email scam, who will use the information to hijack the victims' accounts.
If you receive email messages like these, please go directly to your email account instead of clicking on the links in the email messages. If there is anything wrong with your account or something needs to be done to it, it will be shown to you after you have signed into your account. If you were tricked by one of these malicious phishing scams, please change your Hotmail, Live or Outlook immediately. If you are unable to, click here to report it to Microsoft.
This scam is similar to the following: