"Microsoft Account Security Re-activation" Phishing Email Scams
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-activationDear 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:
- 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.