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I get emails telling me my Hotmail account has expired

I have been getting emails that keep telling me my Hotmail account has expired.  They give a link to update and keep my account.  Is this a con spammer or is this from Hotmail.  Here is a copy and paste of the actual email....

---------------------------------------------

Security Alert,

Dear Customer,

Your Hotmail account has expired. You must renew it immediately or your account will be closed
or wouldn't be able to send or receive mail.

Click here to renew  http://www.hotmail.com/ 

Regards
Hotmail Customers Service.

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The Hotmail link is not the address it actually goes to.  If I just put the curser over the link in the email, the actual address that comes up is....   http://www.mokusok.co.hu/tool/hotmail.html   I have not clicked on this link as I do not know where it goes or what harm may be caused.

 

The header reads, "Your email account has expired".  And here is the address that is listed as the sender... 

"Hotmail Alert (*** Email address is removed for privacy ***)".
 
Is any of this real or is it a con to make me link to a site that may be harmful to my computer?
Answer
Answer
Its a scam.  A well known and long running one.  Microsoft will never ask for personal details (they already have them) and will never cold call you.  Nor do they send out anti virus messages

Microsoft does not do that nor do they have partners who do that 
See the following for additional information about this and what to do and how Microsoft operates:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/msname.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/phishing-scams.aspx

What should you do if you receive a questionable email?

DONT CLICK ON LINKS, Dont go to web sites that are suggested, dont give access, or volunteer information

1.       Investigate the information.
Take some time and check up on the information. Often sites like snopes.com can provide information on known chain letters and other scams and untruths.  Do not click on links within the mail, but do go to that company’s website, and contact their customer service reps via phone or online to verify the validity of the email.

2.       Report suspicious activities.
If you think someone has accessed your Outlook.com account, that the Live ID sign-in page looks fraudulent, or you receive an email that tries to confirm a password change you didn’t authorize, change your password immediately by going to: http://account.live.com. Next, help ensure your PC has not been infected with a virus or malware by running a free full-PC scan.

3.       Help the Outlook.com team identify new scams.
Click on the Junk button in Outlook.com and select “Junk” or “Report phishing scam” to report it to the Outlook.com team. Whatever you do, do not reply back to the sender.
Cat herder
Windows Insider MVP
MVP-Windows and Devices for IT
http://www.zigzag3143.com/

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Question Info

Last updated November 18, 2023 Views 19,525 Applies to: