Microsoft Account Update or Verification Alerts Phishing Scams
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.
The "Microsoft Verification Alert" Phishing Email Message
From: Outlook.com . reambs@hotmail.com
Sent: 28 August 2016 14:46
To: Outlook.com
Subject: 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:
- Beware of "Email Deactivation - Verify Your Email Address" Microsoft Phishing Scam
- Outlook Phishing Scam: "Final Warning (Account Will Be Closed) "
- 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.