The email message below, which claims that the recipients’ email account has exceeded it’s mail quota on the database server and will be blocked from sending and receiving emails if not verified within 48 hours, is a phishing scam. The fake email message was created and sent by cyber-criminals to trick the recipients in clicking on the malicious link within it. The malicious link will take recipients who have clicked on it to a phishing or fake Microsoft Live/Hotmail/Outlook website, where they will be asked to sign into their accounts. But any attempts to sign-in, will send their email account credentials (usernames and passwords) to the cybercriminals responsible for the phishing scam. Once cyber-criminals have gotten their victims’ email account credentials, they will hijack their accounts and use them fraudulently. So, recipients of the fake email message should delete it and never attempt to click on the links or follow the instructions in it.
Recipients of the fake email message, who have already followed the instructions in it, should change their email account's password immediately.
The Phishing Microsoft Live Team Email Message
From: Account Alert
Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2016 6:23 AM
Subject: update -Microsoft Block(ID)
Dear User,
This is a courtesy notice from Admin Team, and it is to inform you that your email account has exceeded it's mail quota on the database server.
Your email account will be blocked from sending and receiving emails if your email account is not verifid within 48 hours.
Please click on your email below and click Unblock to verify your account.
CLICK UNBLOCK
Thanks,
Microsoft Live Team