All You Need to Know About Microsoft Email Scams

Hackers never sleep. They’re always looking for new ways to infect your computer with malware or steal your data (phishing). Did you know that hackers impersonate Microsoft more often than any other company? That makes perfect sense if you think about it since over 1.3 billion devices are running Windows worldwide. This means there’s a huge pool of potential victims.

Microsoft scam emails are actually more common than you may think. This guide will show you how to spot fake Microsoft emails and report them as quickly as possible.

Are There Fake Microsoft Emails?

Hackers and scammers often impersonate Microsoft by sending out fake emails asking users to install the latest updates, confirm their account details, or contact support. Don’t let these emails catch you off guard. Don’t click on any links, and don’t enter your login credentials or personal information.

How Can I Tell If an Email from Microsoft Is Genuine?

Sometimes, Microsoft-labeled email scams are so well crafted that it’s hard to distinguish between a genuine email and a fake message. The sender’s name and email content may seem related to Microsoft, but many red flags will start to pop up if you take a closer look.

Here’s how you can quickly spot fake Microsoft emails:

• Check the sender’s address. Fake emails often have intricate email domains, such as @account.microsoft.com, @updates.microsoft.com, @communications.microsoft. Mismatched emails domains indicate someone’s trying to impersonate Microsoft.
• Check the safety of web addresses. If you’re prompted to visit a specific webpage, make sure it’s safe to do that. There are plenty of tools that you can use to check if a webpage is safe, such as Trend Micro Check, Sucuri SiteCheck, and so on.
• Threats or urgent calls to action are major red flags. If the message you received sounds like a threat or informs you that your account will be closed unless you do what you’re told, that’s a major red flag. For instance, cyber-criminals often prompt you to upgrade your Outlook version and threaten you that incoming emails will be stopped if you don’t install the updates within 48 hours. If the tone is rather aggressive, that’s probably a scam or phishing attempt. Creating a fake sense of urgency is a common scam strategy.
• Beware of generic messages. Generic greetings and messages are major warning signs. If the email starts with “Dear Sir or Madam,” this indicates there’s something fishy there.
• Grammar and spelling errors. Beware of emails that contain grammar and spelling errors. Microsoft would never send such emails to users.

Does Microsoft Contact You by Email?

Microsoft doesn’t contact you by email to request additional account details or provide technical support. The company doesn’t initiate communication. Any communication with Microsoft has to be initiated by users.

Does Microsoft Send Emails About Updates?

Microsoft doesn’t send emails about updates. Don’t trust Microsoft-labeled emails that prompt you to install the latest app updates. Most likely, these are phishing attempts. Simply ignore them, don’t click or download anything.

How Do I Report a Suspicious Email to Microsoft?

To report a suspicious email to Microsoft, select the message, click on Report message, and select Phishing. If you’re using the web version of Outlook, tick the checkbox next to the respective email, select Junk, and then Phishing.

Alternatively, you can compose a new email and add junk@office365.microsoft.com or phish@office365.microsoft.com as the recipients. Then, drag and drop the suspicious email into the new message.

Use Microsoft’s technical support scam reporting tool to report tech support scams. Also, don’t forget to add the sender’s address to your Blocked list.

Conclusion

Cyber-criminals often send out fake Microsoft emails in an attempt to infect your devices with malware or steal your data. These Microsoft email scams often have a sense of urgency and contain quick calls to action. Always report suspicious emails to Microsoft to help the company update its cyber-threat database.

Have you ever received fake Microsoft emails? Did you report them to Microsoft? Tell us more about your experience in the comments below.