The email message below with the subject: "Microsoft security warning, Please validate your account," which claims that due to the current rate of spam, Microsoft Outlook is updating their security terms and privacy protocol, therefore, all Outlook users should validate their accounts, is a phishing scam. The email message is being sent by cyber-criminals, whose intentions are to hijack their victims' email accounts and use them for malicious purposes. So, recipients of the same email message are advised not to follow the instructions in it.
The Phishing Microsoft Outlook Scam
From: Microsoft.com account team members_update2016015@outlook.com
Sent: Monday, 27 March 2017 4:28 PM
To: Microsoft.com account team
Subject: Microsoft security warning, Please validate your account!
Image result for hotmail logo
Account Validation Alert
Dear Microsoft User,
Microsoft outlook is improving for better mail experience. Due to current high rate of spam reports, we are updating our security terms and privacy protocol.
We request all our users to validate their account before the 3rd April, 2017 as failure to do so will lead to deactivation of mail account as we look forward to deactivate all dormant email account that is no longer in use.
Validate My Account
Thank you for using Microsoft services.
Microsoft respects your privacy.
Microsoft Corporation
Redmond, WA 98052
Copyright © 2017 Microsoft
The link in the email message goes to a fake Hotmail, 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.
Recipients who have received the same email message are asked to go directly to their email account at www.outlook.com, instead of clicking on the links in the email message. If there is anything wrong with their accounts, it will be shown to them after signing into their accounts.
And, recipients who have been tricked by the phishing emails are asked to change their Microsoft Hotmail/Live/Outlook password immediately. And, if they are unable to, they should click here to report it to Microsoft.
This scam is similar to the following: