I received an email from Microsoft that I need to verify my account. I am checking if this is scam or if it is authentic.

Janet Burton 0 Reputation points
2026-10-11T12:28:29.9866667+00:00

I received an email from Microsoft that says I need to verify my Microsoft account. I am checking if this is a scam or if it is authentic.

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Account management, security, and privacy
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  1. Erland Sommarskog 138K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-10-11T13:07:39.0366667+00:00

    We don't see the email, but it sounds like a typical scam. A few things to check:

    • What is the address in the From line? Does it actually say microsoft.com? Or is it from some random address? Or something like micorsoft.com?
    • Hover over links the message and check the status bar? Do they lead to microsoft.com? Or some random place?

    Since Microsoft would not send out such mail (I hope!), this is most likely a scam. (I receive a couple of these every week.)

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  2. DaveM121 938.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-11T13:05:14.6266667+00:00

    1

    Most likely that Email is genuine, however, the sender's address may be spoofed, it is best to not click anything in that Email, if there is a link you are meant to click in the Email, do not click it, hover your mouse over the link, what is the URL the link redirects to?

    2

    Log into your Microsoft account on this link, are you able to access your account, and if so, is there any problem indicated on your account?

    https://account.microsoft.com/account

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  3. AI answer

    2026-10-11T12:28:42.51+00:00

    Check these signs before trusting the email:

    1. Verify the sender domain.
      • Emails from the Microsoft account team that use @accountprotection.microsoft.com are legitimate for Microsoft account notifications such as security codes and account update information.
      • Microsoft support emails may also come from these domains: microsoft.com, microsoftsupport.com, mail.support.microsoft.com, office365support.com, and techsupport.microsoft.com.
      • If the message comes from a different domain, treat it as suspicious.
    2. Confirm the message matches actual account activity.
      • Make sure the account referenced in the email belongs to the Microsoft account in use.
      • If the email asks for a verification code or account verification that was not requested, that can mean someone tried to access the account or entered the wrong email address.
    3. Inspect the message carefully in Outlook.
      • A '?' on the sender image means Outlook could not verify the sender identity.
      • A via tag can indicate the actual sending domain is different from the From address shown.
      • Hover over the sender name or address to see the real email address before interacting with the message.
    4. Do not click links or open attachments if anything looks off.
      • Instead, verify the account directly through Microsoft.
      • If prompted to verify an Outlook.com account when sending mail, the official verification flow is through Microsoft’s verify page.
    5. If there is an unusual activity alert, review recent account activity directly.
      • The recent activity page can show when and where the account was accessed, including successful sign-ins and security challenges.

    A message is more likely authentic if it comes from @accountprotection.microsoft.com and matches a real action on the account. If it does not match account activity or comes from another domain, treat it as phishing.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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