The email deactivation notice below which claims that the recipients' email account validation is required to avoid loss of messages, is a phishing scam. The fake email message is being sent by cyber criminals to trick Microsoft Outlook account users into sending them their account credentials, by asking them to click on a link in the same email message that goes a phishing Microsoft Outlook website. The phishing website, which looks exactly like Microsoft Outlook' sign-in page, will ask potential victims to sign-in with their Outlook or Microsoft accounts’ credential, but once the information is submitted, it will be sent to the cybercriminals responsible for the fake website. The cybercriminals will then use the information to hijack their victims’ Microsoft Outlook accounts and use them fraudulently.
The "Microsoft Outlook Activation Update" Phishing Scam
From: MS 3.6.5 Mail Service [mailservice@svamail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2017 10:21 AM
Subject: Deactivation Notice.
Dear,
Your email validation is required. Sign in to avoid loss of emails and other records.
Microsoft Outlook
Your Microsoft Outlook Activation Update
Do not ignore this notification as it is very important.
Microsoft Office Security Team
Copy Right 2017
This message is generated automatically by a server that is triggerred when your account security is at risk. Please do not reply this email, as the return email is not actively monitored.
Microsoft account users should never click on a link in an email message to sign into their accounts. It is recommended that they go directly to www.outlook.com, www.hotmail.com, or www.live.com, and sign into their accounts from there. This is the best way to protect against phishing scams created by cybercriminals to steal online account credentials (usernames and passwords).