"We Will Terminate Your Email in the Next 24 Hours Server Alert" Phishing Scam

The fake "We Will Terminate Your Email in the Next 24 Hours Server Alert" email which appears to have been sent by Microsoft, is a phishing scam created by cybercriminals to steal Microsoft Outlook or Hotmail usernames and passwords. The intentions of the cybercriminals are to hijack email accounts and use them for malicious purposes. So, recipients of the same email message are advised to delete it, and not follow the instructions in it.

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We Will Terminate Your Email in the Next 24 Hours Server Alert Phishing Scam

The "We Will Terminate Your Email in the Next 24 Hours Server Alert" Scam

From: Windows Live 2018 <sunsinai.co@hotmail.com>

Sent: 22 March 2018 14:29

To: acc-supdate@outlook.com

Subject: SERVER ALERT: WE WILL TERMINATE YOUR EMAIL IN THE NEXT 24HOURS!

Update Your Account

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

Update your account

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

Thanks,

The Security team.

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 cyber-criminals 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 signing in. 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.

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: 7)

To protect your privacy, please remove sensitive or identifiable information from your comments, questions, or reviews. We will use your IP address to display your approximate location to other users when you make a post. That location is not enough to find you.

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November 27, 2019 at 10:40 AM by
"We Will Terminate Your Email in the Next 24 Hours Server Alert" Phishing Scam
an anonymous user from: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I've just received an email from: Rogers <info-no-reply@mail.rogers.ca>

saying the following...is this a scam or legit?:

"Dear User

Your Rogers Account was just signed in to from a new Windows device. You're getting this email to make sure it was you.

CLICK HERE TO CONFIRM

Warning: Failure to confirm now will result to a permanent account closure.

Thanks.

Thank You for Using Rogers Mail. ✔

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

© 2019 Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA"

Delete

November 27, 2019 at 11:06 AM by
"We Will Terminate Your Email in the Next 24 Hours Server Alert" Phishing Scam
info

It is a scam.

Delete

November 7, 2019 at 1:34 PM by
"We Will Terminate Your Email in the Next 24 Hours Server Alert" Phishing Scam
an anonymous user from: Saranac Lake, New York, United States

The very same organization that purports to offer a "refund" for computer service is the source of this particular robocall. "Your Microsoft account will be terminated in 24 hours if you do not call this number: 531 321 3039." I called. They asked me how much my refund was. I told the person he was part of a scam and hung up.

Delete

June 20, 2019 at 11:22 AM by
"We Will Terminate Your Email in the Next 24 Hours Server Alert" Phishing Scam
info

"From: Yahoo <jcross3169@sbcglobal.net>

Sent: Wednesday, 19 June 2019, 15:46:40 BST

Subject: Account security team

Yahoo Mail User,

We received your instruction to empty all your Inbox and Sent Folders

We will Delete & Close Your Account Within 24 hours

You need to confirm if you made this request or we will continue with the request.

If you think it is an error, take action immediately to stop this process.

CANCEL NOW & RE-LOGIN TO REQUEST

Warning: if you do not cancel this request your account will be shut-down shortly

Account security team

(c) 2019"

Here is another scam.

Delete

October 23, 2018 at 11:42 AM by
"We Will Terminate Your Email in the Next 24 Hours Server Alert" Phishing Scam
info

Here is another scam:

"From: ACCOUNT TEAM <accounti-nfo@lscca.org.ng>

Date: 22 October 2018 at 13:36:56 SAST

Subject: YOUR EMAIL WILL BE TERMINATED IF YOU DON'T UPDATE IT NOW

Outlook

Dear valued user,

Your email account is outdated. Update your account now for free.

In accordance with the terms and conditions, failure to

update your account will result to permanent closure of your account

Kindly click the link bellow to update your account.

UPDATE MY ACCOUNT

Thanks for using our services

No-reply@microsoft.com"

Delete

October 8, 2018 at 9:57 AM by
"We Will Terminate Your Email in the Next 24 Hours Server Alert" Phishing Scam
info

Here is another scam:

"From: Microsoft Store TM <eva.mari@hotmail.no>

Sent: Monday, October 8, 2018 3:23 AM

Subject: SERVER ALERT: WE WILL TERMINATE YOUR EMAIL IN THE NEXT 48HOURS

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 29th OCT 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"

Delete

July 3, 2018 at 6:30 AM by
"We Will Terminate Your Email in the Next 24 Hours Server Alert" Phishing Scam
info

Here is another scam:

- - - - -

From: Microsoft.com Account Team <tubsfoster@hotmail.com>

Date: 3 July 2018 at 08:37:09 BST

To: "User@t-online.de" <User@t-online.de>

Subject: SERVER ALERT: WE WILL TERMINATE YOUR EMAIL IN THE NEXT 48HOURS!

Update Your Account

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

Updateyour account

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

Thanks,

The Security team.

Delete

Write Your Comment, Question, Answer, or Review

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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).

"We Will Terminate Your Email in the Next 24 Hours Server Alert" Phishing Scam