The fake "Microsoft Office 365 Account Termination and Email Validation" email is another scam being used by cybercriminals to trick recipients into clicking on the link in it which goes to a phishing website. Visitors who attempt to sign into the fake website will have their Microsoft account username and password sent to the cybercriminals behind the scam. Once the cybercriminals have received the stolen account credentials (usernames and passwords), they will use it to gain access to their accounts and use it fraudulently.
The "Microsoft Office 365 Account Termination and Email Validation" Phishing Scam
From: Mail Account <info@account.mail.com>
Sent: 24 May 2018 15:58
To: Mail Account <info@account.mail.com>
Subject: Office Email subject to termination today . Verify now
Microsoft365 Service
Validate Email Account
Now to Avoid DISCONNECTION TODAY
Sign in to confirm account
Note: will not be responsible for any online
or mail malfunction after this warning and no verfication response
Thanks and Regards,
© 2018 Secured Service
Once the cybercriminals have gotten their potential victims' Microsoft account credentials, they will gain access to their accounts, hijack them, and use them fraudulently. Hijacked accounts that are used fraudulently will be blocked by Microsoft, therefore, Microsoft users who have been tricked by the phishing scam are asked to change their passwords before their accounts are hijacked.
Microsoft users whose accounts have already been hijacked may follow the instructions below to recover their accounts:
- Go to https://login.microsoftonline.com
- Enter your email address and click the "Next" button
- Click the "Can’t access your account?" link
- Click "I think someone else is using my Microsoft account" link
- Follow the rest of the instructions
Remember, never click on a link in an email message to sign into your Microsoft Office 365 account. Always go directly to https://www.office.com/ to sign-in instead. After signing in, important notifications, changes or updates will be shown to you, if there is any.