"Your Microsoft Account has Reached an Upgrade" Phishing Scams

Your Microsoft Account has Reached an Upgrade Phishing Scams

The email message below which claims the recipients' Microsoft accounts have reached an upgraded stage, is a phishing scam sent by cyber criminals, and not by Microsoft. The fake email message was created by cyber criminals 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 cyber criminals 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 cyber criminals.

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 cyber criminals.

Sample of the "Your Microsoft Account has Reached an Upgrade" Phishing Scam

From: Windows_live update <user-maintenance-team1001@outlook.com>

Sent: June 6, 2017 7:44 PM

To: member_service@outlook.com

Subject: Your Microsoft account has reached an Upgrade

E-mail Upgrade

Your Microsoft account has reached an Upgrade stage. Verify Your User Email to continue usage.

This is for your own safety to continue using your account, click the button below.

Update Now

To opt out or change where you receive security notifications, click here.

Note: Please do not ignore this email to avoid your account been closed

Thanks,

The Microsoft account team.

Microsoft users should never click on a link to sign into their accounts, they should instead, go directly to https://account.microsoft.com/ and sign-in from there. If there is something that needs to be done to their accounts, they will be notified. This is will prevent Microsoft users from visiting phishing websites disguised as legitimate Microsoft website that steal account credentials.

Check the comment section below for additional information, share what you know, or ask a question about this article by leaving a comment below. And, to quickly find answers to your questions, use our search Search engine.

Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.

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Comments(Total: 14)

July 26, 2019 at 11:20 AM by
"Your Microsoft Account has Reached an Upgrade" Phishing Scams
info

"From: csm dsm [mailto:dsm.csm.castellaneta@asl.taranto.it]

Sent: Friday, July 26, 2019 8:55 AM

To: NO-REPLY@MICROSOFT.NET

Subject: UPDATE MICROSOFT:

Dear account user

Your Microsoft account has reached an upgrade stage, verify your user email to continue usage,

This is for your own safety to continue using

your account, click the button below.

CLICK HERE​​

NOTE: Please do not ignore this email to

avoid your account closure

Thanks,

THE MICROSOFT ACCOUNT TEAM.

Copyright 2017 Mail! Inc. (Co. Reg. No.2344507D) All Rights Reserved. Intellectual

Property"

Here is another scam.

Delete

November 2, 2018 at 10:55 AM by
"Your Microsoft Account has Reached an Upgrade" Phishing Scams
info

Here is another scam:

"From: Microsoft.com account team <adm-reply032452455667777@outlook.com>

Sent: 01 November 2018 10:58

To: Microsoft.com account team

Subject: Your account has reached an upgrading stage! (Verify)

Microsoft

Your Services Agreement made clearer

Improve Conversations, Contacts and Attachments

You’re receiving this email because we are updating the Microsoft Services Agreement, which applies to one or more Microsoft products or services you use. We’re making these updates to clarify our terms and ensure that they remain transparent for you, as well as to cover new Microsoft products, services and features.

You can also learn more about these updates on our FAQ page here, including a summary of the most notable changes. The updates to the Microsoft Services Agreement will take effect on November 5th, 20‍18. If you wish to continue to use our products and services UPDATE your account on or before November 5, 20‍18, to avoid service interruption,and your account being closed.

If you do not agree, you can choose to discontinue using the products and services, and close your Microsoft account before these terms become effective.

Thank you for using Microsoft products and services."

Delete

October 29, 2018 at 8:29 AM by
"Your Microsoft Account has Reached an Upgrade" Phishing Scams
an anonymous user from: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Here is another email that looks as a scam received today:

"You’re receiving this email because we are updating the Microsoft Services Agreement, which applies to one or more Microsoft products or services you use. We’re making these updates to clarify our terms and ensure that they remain transparent for you, as well as to cover new Microsoft products, services and features.

You can also learn more about these updates on our FAQ page here, including a summary of the most notable changes. The updates to the Microsoft Services Agreement will take effect on November 5th, 20‍18. If you wish to continue to use our products and services UPDATE your account on or before November 5, 20‍18, to avoid service interruption,and your account being closed.

If you do not agree, you can choose to discontinue using the products and services, and close your Microsoft account before these terms become effective.

Thank you for using Microsoft products and services."

Delete

September 12, 2018 at 4:58 PM by
"Your Microsoft Account has Reached an Upgrade" Phishing Scams
info

Here is another scam:

- Original message -

From: Microsoft Office365 <taquanpinder95@hotmail.com>

Date: 13/9/18 1:55 am (GMT 10:00)

To: noreplyto@hotmail.com

Subject: 📬Your Mail-Box has reached an upgrade stage

CLOSURE OF EMAIL

You would be blocked from sending and receiving emails if you do not confirm within 24 hrs of receiving this automated mail.

If you wish to continue using your account update now to continue using our service.

Click here to update

Notice: Ignoring this message will cause your account to be terminated without your permission.

Thank you

2018 © Mail Team

Delete

June 19, 2018 at 12:43 PM by
"Your Microsoft Account has Reached an Upgrade" Phishing Scams
info

Here is another scam:

"From: Mail Support <sjmasonryllc@hotmail.com>

Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2018 3:22:24 PM

To: Mail Support

Subject: 📬Your Mail-Box has reached an upgrade stage.

Account Update

Your account may be closed on 02/06/2018

Dear Attn User

This message is being sent to you to inform you that your account is will to be closed at 02/06/2018

If you wish to continue using this account please upgrade to our services. Ignoring this message will cause the account to be closed

Update your account

Note: This upgrade is required immediately after receiving this message

Thank you

Account admin"

Delete

May 24, 2018 at 10:30 AM by
"Your Microsoft Account has Reached an Upgrade" Phishing Scams
an anonymous user from: London, England, United Kingdom

Yes just received exactly that message you have published. Glad I checked here first.

Delete

April 25, 2018 at 10:11 AM by
"Your Microsoft Account has Reached an Upgrade" Phishing Scams
info

Here is another scam:

"From: Microsoft.com team Outlook <outlookmembersgropus_noreply@systemteamsinfomation.com>

Date: 25 April 2018 at 8:42:11 am GMT 4

To: Microsoft.com account team <servingyoubetter.microsftoutllook@outlook.com>

Subject: Email Account Final Warning

Microsoft

Dear User,

This is to inform you that your account has reached the upgrade stage, due to you're using the old version of Microsoft. Take a minute to configure your account for a faster, safer and full-featured Microsoft account experience.

Your account will be closed in the next 48 hours if not configured to the new version.

Click here to configure your account

Thank you.

Microsoft Customer Support.

Copyright 2018 Inc"

Delete

February 14, 2018 at 2:12 PM by
"Your Microsoft Account has Reached an Upgrade" Phishing Scams
info

Here is another scam:

"From: Admin Team

Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2018 2:16 AM

To: Admin Team

Subject: EMAIL DE-ACTIVATION!

Microsoft

Dear Outlook User,

This is to inform you that your Your Microsoft Account has reached an Upgrade stage, due to you are using our old version of Microsoft Outlook

If you choose not to update your account on or before 1t5h of February 2018, your account will be permanently deleted from our database.

Take a minute to update your account for a faster, safer and full-featured Microsoft Outlook experience.

Click Here To Update Your Outlook Account

Thank You for Being A Loyal Outlook Mail User

We hope you enjoy the newest version of Outlook.

Thank you.

Windows Live ID Customer Support.

Copyright 2018 Inc"

Delete

February 13, 2018 at 1:12 AM by
"Your Microsoft Account has Reached an Upgrade" Phishing Scams
info

Here is another scam:

- Forwarded message -

From: "Microsoft.com Office365" <dez_des@live.com>

Date: Feb 12, 2018 11:18 AM

Subject: Re: EMAIL DE-ACTIVATION!

To: "Microsoft.com Office365" <dez_des@live.com>

Microsoft

Dear Outlook User,

This is to inform you that your Your Microsoft Account has reached an Upgrade stage, due to you are using our old version of Microsoft Outlook

If you choose not to update your account on or before 14th of February 2018, your account will be permanently deleted from our database.

Take a minute to update your account for a faster, safer and full-featured Microsoft Outlook experience.

ClickHere To Update Your Outlook Account

Thank You for Being A Loyal Outlook Mail User

We hope you enjoy the newest version of Outlook.

Thank you.

Windows Live ID Customer Support.

Copyright 2018 Inc

Delete

January 12, 2018 at 5:00 AM by
"Your Microsoft Account has Reached an Upgrade" Phishing Scams
info

Here is another scam:

"From: Microsoft.com Office365 <thegentrys@hotmail.co.uk>

Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2018 10:48:53 PM

To: Microsoft.com Office365

Subject: Re: EMAIL DE-ACTIVATION!

Microsoft

Dear Outlook User,

This is to inform you that your Your Microsoft Account has reached an Upgrade stage, due to you are using our old version of Microsoft Outlook

If you choose not to update your account on or before 13th January 2018, your account will be permanently deleted from our database.

Take a minute to update your account for a faster, safer and full-featured Microsoft Outlook experience.

ClickHere To Update Your Outlook Account

Thank You for Being A Loyal Outlook Mail User

We hope you enjoy the newest version of Outlook.

Thank you.

Windows Live ID Customer Support.

Copyright 2018 Inc"

Delete

January 10, 2018 at 5:09 PM by
"Your Microsoft Account has Reached an Upgrade" Phishing Scams
info

Here is another scam:

"From: Microsoft.com Office365 <dez_des@live.com>

Sent: Tuesday, January 9, 2018 10:14:01 AM

To: Microsoft.com Office365

Subject: Re: EMAIL DE-ACTIVATION!

Microsoft

Dear Outlook User,

This is to inform you that your Your Microsoft Account has reached an Upgrade stage, due to you are using our old version of Microsoft Outlook

If you choose not to update your account on or before 13th January 2018, your account will be permanently deleted from our database.

Take a minute to update your account for a faster, safer and full-featured Microsoft Outlook experience.

ClickHere To Update Your Outlook Account

Thank You for Being A Loyal Outlook Mail User

We hope you enjoy the newest version of Outlook.

Thank you.

Windows Live ID Customer Support.

Copyright 2018 Inc"

Delete

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Online Threat Alerts Security Tips

Pay the safest way

Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.

Guard your personal information

In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.

Be careful of the information you share

Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with

Know who you’re dealing with

Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.

Check your accounts

Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.

Don’t believe promises of easy money

If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.

Do not open email from people you don’t know

If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.

Think before you click

If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.

Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond

If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.

Be careful with links and new website addresses

Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.

Secure your personal information

Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.

Stay informed on the latest cyber threats

Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.

Use Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are critical to online security.

Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs

Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.

Update the operating systems on your electronic devices

Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.

What if You Got Scammed?

Stop Contact With The Scammer

Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.

Secure Your Finances

  • Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
  • Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:

Check Your Computer

If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.

Change Your Account Passwords

Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.

Report The Scam

Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.

Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:

  • Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
  • Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
  • Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.

How To Recognize a Phishing Scam

Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.

Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:

Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might

  • say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
  • claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
  • say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
  • include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
  • want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
  • say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
  • offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real

About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.

By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.

With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.

Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.

Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).

"Your Microsoft Account has Reached an Upgrade" Phishing Scams