Microsoft Outlook users who have the received the "Upgraded Version Now Available" email below, which claims that they need to upgrade to a new version to avoid deactivation, are asked to delete it. The email is a fake and is being sent by cybercriminals to bait potential victims into clicking on the link in it. The link goes to a fake Microsoft Outlook website that steals email account credentials if visitors attempt to sign-in.
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 cybercriminals.
The "Outlook Upgraded Version Now Available" Phishing Scam
From: Microsoft.com Team <arnaud_200@hotmail.fr>
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2018 7:00 AM
To: MAILER@OUTLOOK.COM
Subject: UPGRADE ALART
(UPGRADED VERSION NOW AVAILABLE)
In other to avoid De-activation. Please upgrade to our newly Updated version of your outlook account.
Your Mailbox will cease operating(closed-down),if you do not upgrade 3 days after receiving this notification.
CLICK HERE TO UPGRADE TO THE NEW VERSION
We will not be held responsible for the closure of you mail account. if you do not update as warned.
Thanks ,
2018 Security Account Team.
Microsoft Outlook users should never click on a link to sign into their accounts, they should instead, go directly to https://www.outlook.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.