The email message below with the subject: "Microsoft Security Upgrade," which appears as if it came from Microsoft Outlook, claiming that Microsoft Outlook is now upgrading for a better experience in 2016, is a phishing scam. The phishing email scam was sent by cyber-criminals and not by Outlook or Microsoft, to steal Outlook users’ account credentials by frightening them into clicking on a link that the cyber-thieves claim will upgrade the their accounts. So, recipients of the same email message should delete it and should never follow the instructions in it.
The Microsoft Outlook Phishing Scam
Date: Mon, 15 Feb 2016 01:55:17 +0100
From: sol.ab@telia.com
Subject: Microsoft security upgrade.
Upgrade Your Account
Microsoft Outlook is now upgrading for Better and Secured Email experience this 2016.We request All Users of our email service to upgrade their Microsoft email account before 25th of February 2016.
Due to current Spam Reports, We are Deactivating All Microsoft Outlook Users address who do not upgrade their Microsoft Email account before the end of this month as we will take it that you are no more in use of this email account and will deactivate this account.
Upgrade now
Thank you for using Microsoft Products and Services!
Microsoft Respect your privacy.
Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052
The links in the phishing email message will take potential victims to the following fake Microsoft Outlook website created by cyber-criminals:
- http://native-adventure.com/outtooutlookchie/Hotmai l-New/Verification%20Set-up.html
The fake website will ask potential victims to submit their user names, email address, password, phone number and zip code. If the potential victims enter the requested information, it will be sent to the cyber-criminals, who will use it to hijack the victims’ Outlook accounts and use the accounts fraudulently.
Outlook users who were already tricked by the phishing scam, should change their Outlook account passwords immediately. And, for those Outlook users who are unable to change their passwords, should click here to contact Microsoft Outlook.