"Microsoft Server Account Removal" Phishing Scam Created by Scammers

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Updated: Jan. 7, 2019 2019-01-07T10:18:23
Posted: Jan. 7, 2019 2019-01-07T10:15:31
Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

The "Microsoft Server Account Removal" email below, which claims that a closure request will be processed shortly to remove all data from the recipients' email 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 Server Account Removal" Phishing Scam

From: lynneely@hotmail.com <lynneely@hotmail.com> on behalf of Microsoft Accounts <Admin.VbS0lX@microsoft.com>

Sent: Friday, January 4, 2019 10:35 AM

Subject: Your account will be deactivated.

Hello,

This is to inform you that your request on: 03/01/2019 2:17:20 p.m. to remove your account from microsoft server has been approved and will be initiated one hour from the exact time you open this message.

Regards.

Ignore this message to continue with email removal or

If this deactivation was not requested by you

Please reply to us.

Regards,

microsoft

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.