Microsoft Outlook, Hotmail Email Account Upgrade or Update Phishing Scams

Comments: 12
Views: 5,041
Updated: Jul. 4, 2017 2017-07-04T12:08:45
Posted: Jul. 4, 2017 2017-07-04T11:58:03
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Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

Microsoft Outlook or Hotmail users, who have received email messages like the one the one below, which claim the recipients need to upgrade or update their accounts in order to prevent their incoming emails from being placed on hold and then permanently disabled, should delete them. The is because the email messages are phishing scams being sent by cybercriminals to their potential victims. The phishing email messages are being sent by cybercriminals 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 cybercriminals 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 cybercriminals.

Microsoft Outlook, Hotmail Email Account Upgrade or Update Phishing Scams

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.

Remember, Microsoft Hotmail or Outlook is a Web-based email provider, this means that users do not need to do any forms of updates, upgrades or changes to their accounts because their accounts are in the cloud. This is why we ask Microsoft Outlook or Hotmail users to delete all email messages which claim they should upgrade or update their accounts.

A Sample of the Microsoft Outlook, Hotmail Email Account Upgrade or Update Phishing Scam

From: EMAIL MANAGEMENT TEAM <sarah_22@live.com.mx>

Sent: July 4, 2017 3:17 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 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 steals 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

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

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May 23, 2020 at 5:05 PM by an anonymous user from: Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States
What do if the criminals hijacked account? How do they gain income or other knowledge and use it?
remove
- May 23, 2020 at 6:08 PM by info
  Once they gain access to your account, they steal your banking credentials and transfer your money to their accounts, in other words, they steal your money.
  They may also use your account fraudulently to send out malicious emails to other potential victims.
  remove
September 10, 2019 at 9:47 AM by an anonymous user from: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
These criminals should be prosecuted to the fullest.
remove
July 16, 2018 at 10:59 PM by an anonymous user from: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
When I receive email "EU email update" comes in with my email address. What should i do?
remove
- July 16, 2018 at 11:33 PM by info
  Send it to us at info@onlinethreatalerts.com
  remove
July 2, 2018 at 9:34 AM by an anonymous user from: Willmar, Minnesota, United States
I received this email just a few minutes ago. Is this email real?
"Account disabled
Account Security <ramott1@hotmail.com>
Today, 8:57 AM
You
Your Email Account will be disabled because an important security update was ignored. sign in and update your security now because disabled accounts are eventually deleted along with emails, contacts, photos, and other data stored.
Up-date Here
Thanks.
The E-mail Accounts Team"
remove
- July 2, 2018 at 10:51 AM by info
  It is a fake.
  remove
May 13, 2018 at 4:12 AM by an anonymous user from: Doha, Baladiyat ad Daw?ah, Qatar
Is there a simple way of deleting this outlook update email? It's rather irritating.
remove
- June 11, 2018 at 7:05 AM by an anonymous user from: Kozhenchery, Kerala, India
  I am getting some mails to ask me to update the account. For example:
  "LAST WARNING - Mailbox Closure Request Is In Progress
  From : Microsoft.com Team mindustries@hotmail.com
  Account Update
  Your account will be closed on 11/06/2018
  Dear Attn User
  This message is being sent to you to inform you that your account will be closed at 11/06/2018
  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 )
  FROM LAST 2 MONTHS I AM GETTING THESE TYPES OF MAILS TO UPDATE HOTMAIL ACCOUNT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IS THESE MAILS OR FAKE OR WHAT...?
  Please give me advice...
  Thanking You
  XXXXX"
  remove
March 26, 2018 at 10:59 AM by an anonymous user from: Norwich, New York, United States
Received below notice: mail account will be de-activated shortly, is this a scam!
"Today, 10:15 AM
From: account-security-noreply@account.microsoft.com
Account Holder,
Our record indicates that you recently made a request to shutdown your e-mail and this request will be processed shortly.
If this request was made accidentally and you have no knowledge of it, you are advised to cancel the request now
Cancel De-activation
However, if you do not cancel this request your account will be shutdown shortly and all your email data will be lost permanently.
Best Regards
Mail Service.
©2018 Mail Service. All Rights Reserved."
remove
- March 26, 2018 at 2:18 PM by info
  Yes, it is a scam.
  remove
November 29, 2017 at 1:24 PM by an anonymous user from: Bridger, Montana, United States
Is this one also a scam?
"UPDATE YOUR ACCOUNT
WT Windows Live Team <high-fly2@hotmail.com>
Wed 11/22/2017 1:39 AM
To:msn_Members@outlook.com
Microsοft
Your Services Agreement and Privαcy Statement made clearer
Dear User,
This is to inform you that Microsοft Outloοk will discontinue suppοrt on your accοunt and security.
and you will no longer have access to many of the latest features for improved, conversations, contacts and attαchments.
Take a minute to updαte your accοunt for a faster, safer and full-featured Microsοft Outloοk experience.
Updαte Your Accοunt
Sincerely
Outloοk.com Team
Microsοft respects your privαcy. Review our οnline Privαcy Statement."
remove

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