"Microsoft Account Closure Notice" Phishing Scam
The email message below with the subject: "Microsoft Account Closure Notice," which claims that a closure request will be processed shortly to remove all data from the recipients' email accounts, is a phishing scam created to steal Microsoft Outlook or Hotmail 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 follow the instructions in it.
The "Microsoft Account Closure Notice" Phishing Scam
From: Outlook.com Team angie_tavares@hotmail.com
Date: February 15, 2017 at 10:32:24 AM EST
Subject: MICROSOFT ACCOUNT CLOSURE NOTICEMicrosoft security alert
We have received your request to close your Microsoft account. Your request is being processed and the email address and all associated data will be removed from our servers shortly. If this request was received in error and you do not wish to terminate your account, indicate this by choosing I choose to keep my account and cancel termination request.
http://outlook.microsoft.com/en-us/verify-account
If you have chosen to keep your account, click the link above and log in to terminate the request automatically.
Thanks,
The Microsoft account team
Copyright © 2017 (Co. Reg. No. 2344507D) All Rights Reserved
The link in the email message goes to 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 in. 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.