Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.
Scamming - Fraud
The email message below with the subject: "Account Update Alert!(2016)" or "Microsoft verification alert," which claims that the recipients' e-mail accounts are currently not upgraded and will be suspended, is a phishing scam created to steal Microsoft user names and passwords. The email message was not sent by Microsoft, but by cyber-criminals, whose intentions are to hijack email accounts and use them for malicious purposes. So, recipients of the same email message are advised to delete it and not to follow the instructions in it.
From: Outlook.com . reambs@hotmail.comSent: 28 August 2016 14:46To: Outlook.comSubject: 193334 - ACCOUNT UPDATE ALERT! (2016)Microsoft verification alertYour e-mail account is currently not upgraded.Kindly sign in below for upgrade to avoid account suspension.UPGRADEThank you for using Microsoft services.Microsoft respects your privacy. To learn more, please read our Privacy Statement.Microsoft CorporationOne Microsoft WayRedmond, WA 98052Copyright © 2016 Microsoft
From: Outlook.com . reambs@hotmail.comSent: 28 August 2016 14:46To: Outlook.comSubject: 193334 - ACCOUNT UPDATE ALERT! (2016)
Microsoft verification alert
Your e-mail account is currently not upgraded.
Kindly sign in below for upgrade to avoid account suspension.
UPGRADE
Thank you for using Microsoft services.
Microsoft respects your privacy. To learn more, please read our Privacy Statement.
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
Copyright © 2016 Microsoft
The link in the email message opens a fake Outlook or Microsoft website, which will attempt to trick the cyber-criminals' 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, it will be sent to the cyber-criminals behind the email scam, who will use the information to hijack their accounts.
If you have received the same email message, please go directly to your email account instead of clicking on the links in the email message. And, if there is anything wrong with your account, it will be shown to you after signing into account. If you were tricked by the phishing email, please change your Microsoft Hotmail/Live/Outlook immediately. If you are unable to, click here to report it to Microsoft.
This scam is similar to the following:
3
Here is another scam: "From: Outlook.com Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2018 6:15:55 AM Subject: Outlook Email Account Verification Update! Outlook Logo Dear Outlook User, Our record indicates that you recently made a request to deactivate your email account and this request will be processed shortly. If this request was made accidentally and you have no knowledge of it, please you are advised to cancel the request now. Please kindly review your outlook e-mail account by following the reference link below to cancel de-activation. https://login.live.com/login.srf?sf=1&id/outlook/account/ Please do not reply to this message. For questions, we will contact you as soon as possible. However, if you do not cancel this request, your outlook account will be de-activated shortly and all your email data will be lost permanently. Thanks, © 2018 Outlook Account Team™"
Here is another scam: "From: Administrator accountfied@kaunitzcpas.com Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2017 11:39 AM Subject: Final Alert Microsoft Account We've run into a problem with your Account Verification, and we need your help to fix it. What do you need to do? You need to login securely below and your account will be Verified automatically. Verify your account here Thank you! Microsoft"
Here is another scam: "From: Outlook Team Sent: 01 February 2017 01:25 PM Subject: E-mail Upgrade Microsoft final warning verification alert Your e-mail account is currently not upgraded. Kindly sign in below for upgrade to avoid account suspension. UPGRADE Thank you for using Microsoft services. Microsoft respects your privacy. To learn more, please read our Privacy Statement Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052 Copyright © 2016 Microsoft"
