"Deactivation Alert and Update Confirmation" Microsoft Outlook or Hotmail Phishing Scams

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  • Update Updated: Dec. 22, 2019 2019-12-22T16:40:40
  • Date Posted: Sep. 5, 2017
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Microsoft account users who have received email messages like the one below, which claim the recipients' email accounts are in the process of being deactivated and the recipients must click the link within the same email message to cancel the deactivation process or have their Microsoft accounts terminated, is a phishing scam. The fake and phishing email message was created and sent by cybercriminals to steal Microsoft Outlook or Hotmail user names and passwords, with the intention of hijacking the email accounts and using them maliciously or fraudulently. Therefore, recipients of the same email message are advised to delete it, and not follow the instructions in it.

Deactivation Alert and Update Confirmation Microsoft Outlook or Hotmail Phishing Scams
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A Sample of a Phishing Microsoft Outlook Email Message

From: ACCOUNT TEAM <mittalsonali@hotmail.com>

Subject: DE-ACTIVATION ALERT

Date: 5 September 2017 02:30:59 BST

Security Info Update

Dear E-Mail User,

On 12th September 2017, We are deactivating all email accounts that are not updated as we look forward to terminate all dormant accounts in our email service.

If you like to continue using your email address, Update your e-mail account below.

Confirm And Update Here

This is to reduce the number of dormant account.

Best Regards

Mail Service.

©2017 Mail Service. 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 cybercriminals 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 you have signed into it. 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:

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, Questions, Answers, or Reviews

Comments (Total: 13)

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  • December 22, 2019 at 12:36 PM by an anonymous user from: Nescopeck, Pennsylvania, United States

    I got the following email, don't know if it's scam or not. It had my actual email in the content (I removed it before posting here), doesn't ask for any personal info but has a link to follow.

    noreply@outlook.com

    FrI 12/20/2019 9:11 PM

    You

    Please confirm your account

    Following our latest report, more than 40% of accounts registered on our servers are inactive or unused accounts.

    We are sending this notice to random selected users, in order to validate real and active accounts.

    In order to avoid deletion of xxxxxx@msn.com, please confirm your account

    Confirm xxxxxx@msn.com

    You received this email to let you know about important changes to your Microsoft Account and services.

  • October 29, 2018 at 10:39 AM by info

    Here is another scam:

    "From: Account Team <database1544@outlook.com>

    Sent: Friday, October 26, 2018 12:20:06 AM

    To: Account Team

    Subject: Update

    Due to on-going upgrade in our database, state your date of birth and phone number to avoid termination of your Outlook account."

  • June 28, 2018 at 9:46 AM by an anonymous user from: Inglewood, California, United States

    Beware of this!

    "FINAL WARNING: Your Email Will Be De-activated

    Your account will be TERMlNATED/BL0CKED on Friday 29/06/2018.

    This is due to non-verification and multiple spam mails sent from your account.

    Notification ID: Z-X2pGsgf9t

    Click on the below button to authenticate and verify your account now.

    From this email,

    member_service@outlook.com"

  • May 26, 2018 at 9:01 AM by an anonymous user from: Kansas City, Kansas, United States

    I got emails from the "Outlook Team" asking for my birth date and social security number. I responded with a vulgarism. Later, I received a text to my cell phone containing a "Code" number to send to the "Outlook team". That was followed by an email from the "Outlook Team" asking for that code. The email address used by the sender was database637@outlook.com

    I reported the phishing emails to Microsoft. I am certain this is happening to many people.

  • May 1, 2018 at 8:01 AM by an anonymous user from: Bronx, New York, United States

    I've received two messages from the following email address "Microsoft.com team" <postmaster.verifications.center1@outlook.com> on 4/30/2018 and 5/1/2018

    "Subject line: "Microsoft Account Deactivation Confirmation"

    Our record indicates your account is not updated, which may lead to the close down of your account.

    If you don't update your account, you will not be able to send and receive emails again, and you will no longer have access to many of our latest features for improved Conversations, Contacts and Attachments.

    Take a minute to update your account for a faster and full featured mail experience

    Re-sign in and cancel deactivation process

    Note: Failure to update your account might lead to permanent deactivation of your account.

    Thanks,

    The Security team."

  • March 20, 2018 at 5:21 AM by an anonymous user from: Tamworth, England, United Kingdom

    And another one:

    "Update Your Account

    Our records indicates your account is not updated, which may lead to the close down of your account.

    If you don't update your account, you will not be able to send and receive emails again, and you will no longer have access to many of our latest features for improved Conversations, Contacts and Attachments.

    Take a minute to update your account for a faster and full featured mail experience

    Re-sign in and update your account

    Note: Failure to update your account might lead to permanent deactivation of your account.

    Thanks,

    The Security team."

  • March 15, 2018 at 10:28 AM by info

    Here is another scam:

    "From: Microsoft.com Office365

    Sent: Thursday, March 15, 1:46 PM

    Subject: Re: EMAIL DE-ACTIVATION

    To: Microsoft.com Office365

    Outlook.com

    Dear User,

    Your email requires immediate verification for an update. Click below to update your account

    Sign In

    If you choose not to update your account on or before 20th March 2018, your account will be permanently deleted from our database.

    Thank You for Being A Loyal Outlook Mail User

    We hope you enjoy the newest version of Outlook.

    Mail team! ©2018 All Rights Reserved"

  • March 12, 2018 at 4:22 PM by an anonymous user from: Killara, New South Wales, Australia

    Hello,

    I was sent this email. It’s a scam isn’t it?

    "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 22nd of March 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

    • March 13, 2018 at 12:47 AM by info

      Yes, it is a scam.

  • February 12, 2018 at 10:05 AM by an anonymous user from: Sunnyvale, California, United States

    I received this message from:

    outlook.com Accounts <hfg@ at121.hostirs.net>

    Is this scam?

    "Hello,

    This is to inform you that your request on: ​​2018-02-12 08-53-45 ​to remove your account from outlook.com Servers has been approved and will initiate in one hour from the exact time you open this message.

    Ignore this message to continue with email removal or

    If this deactivation was not requested by you Please reply to this mail directly without altering the subject.

    Regards,

    outlook.com"

    • February 12, 2018 at 2:32 PM by info

      Yes, it is a scam.

  • January 22, 2018 at 10:57 AM by an anonymous user from: London, England, United Kingdom

    dear Microsoft, been having E-mails come through from account team Microsoft to say for the final time we have stopped processing incoming emails since I have refused to upgrade my account and they will be forced to lock my account if this is ignored. it comes from info@servicelubo.com. Is this a scam?

    • January 22, 2018 at 12:25 PM by info

      Yes, it is a scam.

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"Deactivation Alert and Update Confirmation" Microsoft Outlook or Hotmail Phishing Scams