"Microsoft Account Deletion Notification" Phishing Scam

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Updated: Apr. 18, 2018 2018-04-18T12:53:17
Posted: Mar. 7, 2018 2018-03-07T09:02:15
Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

The "Microsoft Account Deletion Notification" email message below, which claims the recipients' account is not updated and will lead to the closure of their accounts, is a phishing scam created to steal Microsoft Outlook or Hotmail usernames and passwords. The email message was not sent by Microsoft, but by cyber-criminals, whose intentions 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.

The "Microsoft Account Closure Notice" Phishing Scam

Van: MlCROSOFT ACCOUNT TEAM <user_center7383829920023@outlook.com>

Verzonden: woensdag 7 maart 2018 10:04

Aan: MlCROSOFT ACCOUNT TEAM

Onderwerp: FINAL WARNING: ACCOUNT DELETION NOTIFICATION.

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.

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 account password immediately. If you are unable to, click here to report it to Microsoft.