Beware of "Microsoft Account Security Re-activation" Phishing Email Scams

Updated: December 2, 2016 2016-12-02T07:58:06 - Posted: December 2, 2016 2016-12-02T07:55:02 - Views: 3,759 - Comments: 4 +

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The email message below with subject: "Microsoft Account Security Re-activation," which claims support on the recipients' Microsoft Outlook accounts will be discontinue, 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 Security Re-activation" Phishing Email

From: Microsoft account team wenyuanke@gmail.com
Sent: Thursday, December 1, 2016 7:56 AM
Subject: Microsoft Account Security Re-activation

Dear Email User,

This is to inform you that on 2nd December, 2016, Microsoft Outlook will discontinue support on your account and security.

If you choose not to update your account on or before 5th December, 2016, you will not be able to read and send emails, and you will no longer have access to many of the latest features for improved, conversations, contacts and attachments.

Take a minute to update your account for a faster, safer and full-featured Microsoft Outlook experience.

Update Your Account

Thanks,

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:

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Comments, Questions and Reviews ✍

(Total: 4)

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Posted: Aug 16, 2018 at 10:51 AM by info
Here is another scam:

"From: Msn Team
Date: August 15, 2018 at 4:18:54 AM EDT
Subject: Account Security Re-activation™

Server Message

Dear User,

Your account with us is outdated and in spam list, for your own safety kindly update and verify your email account.

Continue

Failure to continue with verification will lead to mail malfunction, lost of files and final termination.

Thanks,
Mail Team.

FINAL WARNING - UPDATE AND VERIFY YOUR ACCOUNT!"
delete
Posted: Jun 11, 2018 at 2:05 PM by an anonymous user from or near: Ilford, England, United Kingdom
Was sent this and fell for, it looked genuine:

"We have recently upgraded all our customer e-mail addresses to Outlook.com. Due to this, your Hotmail account needs to be re-activated.

You can do this by just simply logging in on the link below:

https://accounts.live.com/activate-outlook/Outlook-user-id-#qmlhwpdrlbubg-qhmwlmi/

If your e-mail account is not activated within 2 working days it may expire.

This is a compulsory process that affects all our customers."
delete
Posted: Apr 6, 2018 at 1:10 PM by info
Here is another scam:

"From: Mail Team
Sent: Thursday, April 5, 2018 8:28 PM
Subject: Account Security Re-activation™

Dear Email User,

This is to inform you that on 9th April, 2018, Microsoft Outlook will discontinue support on your account and security.

If you choose not to update your account on or before 16th April, 2018, you will not be able to read and send emails, and you will no longer have access to many of the latest features for improved, conversations, contacts and attachments.
Take a minute to update your account for a faster, safer and full-featured Microsoft Outlook experience.

Update Your Account

Thanks,
Outlook Team."
delete
Posted: Feb 20, 2017 at 10:44 AM by info
Here is another scam:

-- phishing scam --
"From: Outlook Team [clidna@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, 20 February 2017 11:44 p.m.
Subject: Microsoft Account Security Re-activation™

Dear Email User,

This is to inform you that on 24th February, 2017, Microsoft Outlook will discontinue support on your account and security.

If you choose not to update your account on or before 27th February, 2017, you will not be able to read and send emails, and you will no longer have access to many of the latest features for improved, conversations, contacts and attachments.
Take a minute to update your account for a faster, safer and full-featured Microsoft Outlook experience.

Update Your Account

Thanks,
Outlook.com Team"
delete

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