Outlook users are advised not to follow the instructions in email messages like the one below which claim their accounts will be placed on hold or permanently disabled until they have updated them. This is because the email messages are fakes being sent by cyber criminals to trick Outlook users into clicking on the links in the fake email messages that go to a phishing website that steals Outlook, Hotmail or Microsoft account usernames and passwords.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 "Outlook Closing Procedure in Process be Warned" Phishing Scam
From: EMAIL ADMIN TEAM <dhananjaypatel9186@hotmail.com>
Sent: July 11, 2017 2:46 AM
To: noreply@outlook.com
Subject: (CLOSING PROCEDURE IN PROCESS) BE WARNED
Dear user,
We noticed that some of your incoming emails was placed on-hold due to you are still operating on our old version.
Take a minute to update your account below to enjoy our full security protection.
Continue and update
Note: Failure to update your account on or before 1st July will lead to permanent disable of your account from our database.
Thank you
Copyright © 2017 Member team
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 cyber criminals to steal online account credentials (usernames and passwords).