Microsoft Account Team Email Scam Messages

How to Spot the Scam

• Fake Sender Addresses: Phishing emails often come from suspicious or non-Microsoft domains (e.g., gmail.com, or random variations).
• Generic Greetings: Authentic emails from Microsoft usually address you by your first name rather than a generic term like "Dear Customer."
• Urgency and Threats: If an email aggressively threatens to permanently delete or lock your account within a short timeframe, treat it as highly suspicious.
• Malicious Links: Hovering your mouse over the buttons or links in the email will reveal the actual destination URL. If it doesn't lead to an official Microsoft domain, it is a scam.

Verifying a Real Email

Official notifications regarding security codes, sign-in alerts, or password updates are only sent from the @accountprotection.microsoft.com domain. However, because email addresses can be easily spoofed, you should never click links directly from the email.

If you receive an alarming notification:

1. Do not click any links or download any attachments in the email.
2. Open a web browser, type https://account.microsoft.com directly into the address bar, and log in securely.
3. Check the "Recent Activity" or security section of your account dashboard. If there is a legitimate issue, it will be listed there.

Additional Resources

If you want to read more about recognizing Microsoft scam emails and understanding how Microsoft alerts you to account activity, you can consult these resources:

• Learn more about identifying authentic Microsoft messages on Microsoft Support.
• Review the protocol for unusual sign-ins and alerts on Microsoft Support.