Outlook or Hotmail users who have received "Outlook Hotmail Termination Notification" emails like the one below, which claim that their request to delete their accounts has been approved, are asked to delete them because they are phishing scams. The fake email messages are being sent by cybercriminals to steal Hotmail usernames and passwords, by tricking Hotmail users into visiting a phishing website that steals email account credentials.
The "Outlook Hotmail Termination Notification" Scam
From: Microsoft Outlook <noreply@ecobank.com>
Sent: October 8, 2019 11:22 AM
Subject: Outlook Hotmail Termination Notification
Mail Deactivation
We have received a request from Microsoft to delete your account, your account will be removed from the site shortly and will be permanently deleted within 7 days .
(Note: Please ignore this message if the request was from you, If you wish to cancel this request, do so immediately by verifying your details.)
Verify Now
If you have additional questions, please contact customer service.
Thanks,
Administrator
The link in the phishing email message goes to a fake or phishing Hotmail website, which will attempt to trick the potential victims into entering their usernames and passwords on it. If Hotmail users attempt to sign into the phishing website with their usernames and passwords, it will be sent to the cybercriminals behind the email scam, who will use the information to hijack their accounts. The hijacked Hotmail accounts will then be used by cybercriminals fraudulently.
Remember, if you receive email messages like these, please go directly to your email account instead of clicking on the links in the email messages. If there is anything wrong with your account, it will be shown to you after signing in. And, if you were tricked by one of these phishing scams, please change your password immediately before your Hotmail account is hijacked. If your account has already been hijacked, click here for help regaining access to it.