"Microsoft Update De-activation" Phishing Scam

The email message below with the subject: "Case ID; 764GB4573MF -Microsoft Update-August 8," which claims the recipients need to verify their Hotmail accounts to avoid de-activation, is a phishing scam sent by cybercriminals, and not by Microsoft. The fake email message was created by cybercriminals to frighten and trick the recipients into clicking on the link within it. The link goes to a phishing website or a fake website looking like Microsoft’s website, created by cybercriminals to trick potential victims into entering their Microsoft account usernames and passwords on it, by asking them to sign in. But, any attempts to sign into the fake website, will result in the victims’ Microsoft account usernames and passwords being sent to cybercriminals.

Once cybercriminals have gotten their potential victims’ account credentials (usernames and passwords), they will use it to hijack their Microsoft accounts and use them fraudulently. Therefore, recipients of the phishing email message (see below) who were tricked into clicking on the link within it and have attempted to sign into the phishing or fake website that they were taken, are asked to change their Microsoft account passwords immediately, before they are hijacked and used fraudulently by cybercriminals.

The "Microsoft Update De-activation" Phishing Scam

From: Mlcrosoft Customer Support Service gerd_tamms@msn.com
Sent: 08 August 2016 19:13
Subject: Case ID; 764GB4573MF -Microsoft Update-August 8
Hi user
You’re receiving this email because we are updating the Microsoft Services and Your Hotmail Account needs to be verified to avoid De-activation.
8 August 2016 00:00:50-23:59
You will be blocked from sending and receiving emails if not confirmed within 24hrs of receiving this automated mail.
Click the button below to continue using this service
Continue with Verification
Thanks,
The Microsoft account team