The "Windows Live 2018 Update and Verify Email to Avoid Shutdown" Phishing Scam

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Updated: Oct. 29, 2018 2018-10-29T09:41:17
Posted: Oct. 29, 2018 2018-10-29T09:40:38
Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

The "Windows Live 2018 Update and Verify Email to Avoid Shutdown" email below is a scam. Therefore, Microsoft account users are asked to delete email messages which claim that their accounts will be shut down. This is because the email messages are phishing scams that have been created by cybercriminals to steal Microsoft Hotmail/Live/Outlook usernames and passwords. The intention of the cybercriminals is to hijack email accounts and use them fraudulently. So, recipients of the same email messages are not to follow the instructions in them and just delete them.

The "Windows Live 2018 Update and Verify Email to Avoid Shutdown" Phishing Scam

From: Microsoft.com account team <pacco.sezer@hotmail.com>

Sent: Monday, June 11, 2018 5:52:49 AM

To: USER22@T-ONLINE.DE

Subject: Shutting Down Of Microsoft Account

Last Warning

This is to notify you for the final time that we have stopped processing incoming emails on your account.

Since you have refused to upgrade your account and we might be forced to lock up your account if this notice is ignored.

UPGRADE NOW

Nοte: Please do nοt ignore this email to avοid your account been shutdown

The links in the email messages go 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 messages. And, if there is anything wrong with your account, it will be shown to you after signing into it.

Now, if you were tricked by the phishing email, please change your Hotmail/Live/Outlook immediately. If you are unable to, click here to report it to Microsoft.