Microsoft email scam warning: How to spot fake messages

Fraudulent emails now look more official. This one claims to be urgent Warning from Microsoft About your email account. He looks serious. It feels time sensitive. And that’s exactly the point. Lily reached out after something went wrong with the message.

“I need help with an email that I’m not sure is authentic. I hope you can help me determine if this is authentic or a scam. I’ve attached two screenshots below. Thank you in advance,” Lily wrote.

Here’s the important takeaway ahead of time. This email is not from Microsoft. It’s a scam designed to get you to click on a dangerous link.

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A closer look at the sender shows a red flag that scammers hope you’ll miss: a free email address pretending to be a trusted brand. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutson)

Why is this? Important Inbox email from Microsoft It is a scam

Once you slow down and read it closely, the red flags pile up quickly.

General greeting

It opens with the words “Dear User”. Microsoft uses your name. Scammers avoid this because they don’t know who you are.

A tough deadline means scaring you

The message claims that access to your email will stop on February 5, 2026. Scammers rely on fear and urgency to impede good judgment.

Totally wrong return address

The email came from accountsettinghelp20@aol.com. Microsoft does not send security notices from AOL. never.

Linkage language is opportunistic

“Continue here” is designed to elicit a quick click. Microsoft messages sent to you are clearly labeled as Microsoft.com pages.

Fake legal language

Lines like “© 2026 All Rights Reserved” are often copied and pasted by scammers to appear official.

Attachments that shouldn’t be there

Microsoft account alerts don’t include image attachments. This alone is a major warning sign.

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The fake email from Microsoft uses urgent and vague language to pressure you to click before you have time to think. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutson)

What would happen if you clicked?

If you click on the link, you will almost certainly be taken to a fake Microsoft login page. From there, attackers aim to steal:

• for you Email address
• Your password
• Access other accounts associated with this email

Once they have your email, they can reset passwords, dig through old messages, and launch more scams using your identity.

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Fraudulent emails often reach people on their phones, where small screens make it easy to miss warning signs and click quickly. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutson)

What to do if this email arrives in your inbox

If an email like this appears, slow down and follow these steps in order. Each one helps stop cold scams.

1) Don’t click or interact at all

Don’t click on links, buttons or images. Don’t reply. Even opening attachments can lead to tracking or malware. Powerful antivirus software It can block phishing pages, scan attachments, and warn you about dangerous links before damage is done. Make sure your device is active and up to date. The best way to protect yourself from malicious links that install malware, and potentially access your private information, is to install strong antivirus software on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best antivirus protection winners of 2026 for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS at Cyberguy.com.

2) Delete the message immediately

Once you report it, delete it. There’s no reason to keep it in your inbox or trash.

3) Verify your account in a secure way

If you want peace of mind, open a new browser window and go directly to the official Microsoft account website. Log in normally. If there is a real problem, it will show up there.

4) Change your password if you click on it

If you click anything or enter information, change your Microsoft password immediately. Use a strong, unique password that you don’t use anywhere else. A password manager can generate the password and store it securely for you. Then review your recent login activity for anything suspicious.

Next, check if your email has been exposed in previous breaches. Our #1 password manager pick has a built-in penetration scanner that checks if your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com.

5) Enable two-factor authentication

employment Two-factor authentication (2FA) For your Microsoft account. This adds a second check that can stop attackers even if they get your password.

6) Use a data removal service for long-term protection

Scammers often find targets through data broker sites. A data removal service helps reduce the amount of personal information available to the public, reducing your exposure to phishing in the first place.

While no service can guarantee complete removal of your data from the Internet, a data removal service is truly a smart choice. It’s not cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by systematically monitoring and scraping your personal information from hundreds of websites. This gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to clear your personal data from the Internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of fraudsters cross-referencing data from breaches to information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free check to see if your personal information really exists on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

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7) Report it as spam or phishing

Use the reporting tool built into your email application. This helps train filters and protects other users from seeing the same scam.

Additional security tips for real Microsoft notifications

When Microsoft really needs your attention, the signs look very different.

• Alerts appear within your Microsoft account dashboard
• Messages do not require immediate action through spam email links
• Notifications never come from free email services like AOL, Gmail, or Yahoo

This variation makes it easier to spot scams once you know what to look for.

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Key takeaways for Kurt

Scammers rely on you being busy, distracted, or worried about losing access to your email. That’s why such messages rely so heavily on urgency. Your email is at the center of your digital life, so attackers know that a shutdown threat quickly attracts attention. The good news is that slowing down even for a few seconds changes everything. Lily did exactly the right thing by stopping and asking first. This one habit can prevent identity theft, account takeovers, and long and frustrating clean-ups. Remember this rule. Emails threatening to stop service and demanding immediate action are never legitimate. When you feel like something is urgent, this is your cue to pause and check in with yourself and never let an email push you into making a mistake.

Have you recently seen a fake Microsoft warning like this, or is it pretending to be coming from another brand you trust? Let us know your thoughts by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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