If you use Microsoft Office – which includes Word, Excel and the Outlook email service – then be on alert, because a new phishing scam is doing the rounds.
The email has the subject line UNABLE TO VERIFY SUBSCRIPTION.
It appears to be from the ‘MS Message Center’ with the email address ‘no-reply.o365mc@domainservermsn.com’.
This is what it looks like (click on the image to see a larger version).
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The message warns that your mailbox has been disabled and that you need to click the link to verify your subscription.
Unlike many scam emails, the spelling and grammar in this email is relatively accurate and the ‘Why it happens’ explanation is somewhat convincing – it's definitely more polished than the usual half-baked scam mails we receive.
Read more: the Microsoft password reset scam
What happens if you click the link?
When you click the ‘RE-ENABLE NOW’ link, you’re brought to a page resembling the Microsoft Office login portal (click on the image to expand):
Do not enter your password: this could give scammers access to your Outlook email account and all the personal information within.
Although the page looks convincing, a quick glance at the browser address bar strongly suggests it is fake.
Firstly, the site ‘eprohectos’ has nothing to do with Microsoft: the actual page address is ‘login.microsoftonline.com’, although bear in mind scammers can create convincing replicas.
Secondly, the .tk domain refers to the Pacific island territory of Tokelau, which has been associated with phishing scams in the past.
The browser bar does have a ‘Secure’ padlock mark, but these can often be faked and so shouldn’t be relied upon.
Read more: why just opening a scam email could help fraudsters
Don’t get caught out
With good grammar, a convincing login page and the fake ‘Secure’ padlock mark, this scam shows why you can never be too careful with emails.
The safest tactic is to be highly suspicious of any message that asks for your personal information or for you to log into your account and never click on the link.
If you want to double-check an email’s validity, ring the company on a number that you trust.
Scam emails should be reported to Microsoft: the simplest way to do it is to create a new blank email and address the email to junk@office365.microsoft.com or phish@office365.microsoft.com.
Copy and paste the scam into the email as an attachment and click send. Or if you have the Report Message add-in on Outlook, choose the Report Message button on your screen and you’ll see a few different options:
- Junk;
- Phishing;
- Not junk;
- Options;
- Help.
If you pick Junk, Phishing or Not Junk, you’ll have the option to send a copy of the message to Microsoft.
Think you've fallen victim to fraud? Check your credit report for anything suspicious