I recently got an email about "Violation of Microsoft terms of use or policy" is it spam or real?

Question

I recently got an email about "Violation of Microsoft terms of use or policy" is it spam or real?

Anonymous

Violation of our policy Hello *My Name*Content associated with your account was reported to Microsoft as violating our terms, policy, or laws. The details are as follows:| <ul><li style="margin-left: 15px">Service or product used: GroupMe</li><li style="margin-left: 15px">Policy violated: <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/DigitalSafety/policies#SpamFraudScamsPhishing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="www.microsoft.com">Spam</a></li><li style="margin-left: 15px">Actions taken: We have removed the content in violation. Your user account has been suspended due to the violation.</li></ul> | | --- |If you believe that this determination is incorrect, please submit an appeal. You have 6 months to appeal this violation.

Read more about the appeal and dispute process.

I only use groupme for school so I'm not sure what is spam on there or why I'd get this email but no where else am I seeing my account is suspended, I can login to groupme fine...

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Dear Clay Scheetz

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

Based on your description, I know you want to verify the authenticity of this email

I clicked on the link you provided and the following message was displayed. I think this email is genuine because when I logged on to this site, my Microsoft account automatically logged me in.

.

I only use groupme for school so I'm not sure what is spam on there or why I'd get this email but no where else am I seeing my account is suspended, I can login to groupme fine...

I think it could be that your account was hacked and that's what caused your account to be penalised by Microsoft. You can check your account for abnormal logins by following the link below

See when and where you've used your account (live.com)

I hope that you can follow the following methods to protect your account

Additional security options (live.com)

Log in to your Microsoft account, select Security, Manage Security Methods

First of all, then trusted devices Including cell phones to change their passwords, and then add a few more security verification,

and then log out of all the devices,

and finally re-generate a security code, in case of theft can be used to restore the account through this code!

If you have any questions, please contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible!

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Best regards

Kokutou-MSFT |Microsoft Community Technical Support Specialist

0 comments

4 additional answers

Answer 1

I'm looking at the link in your post, I'd say it is either a phishing attempt or the company you work for is testing your mail security awareness skill. Either way I would not click it. If it's phishing, they'll steal your account. If you click a phishing test from your company IT department, you fail the test. Judging by your action to ask someone to help you decide, I'd say you have failed the test.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Dear Clay Scheetz

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

It is my honor to be able to help you solve the troubles. Please vote Yes or No below this post to help others with similar concerns

The key to protecting your account from hackers is still the need for good protection awareness

Your account isn't necessarily secure even if you set up two-factor authentication

If you log in to a strange computer, they will record the keystrokes you made on the keyboard. Then after you enter your account password and email verification code, they will generate a verification file starting with ssfn in the Microsoft folder. If you copy the verification file of your Microsoft account and copy it to other computers, the computer where the verification file is copied can log in directly without email verification. If you copy the verification file of your Microsoft account and copy it to another computer, the copied verification file can be used to log in directly without email verification, so the thief can log in directly as long as he gets the password and verification file.

I wish you to use your account safely and never be disturbed by hackers

Best regards

Kokutou-MSFT |Microsoft Community Technical Support Specialist

Answer 4

Now looking into the recent logins, there are 100+ login attempts from Brazil, Russia and Germany, luckily they were all unsuccessful but they have tried multiple times a day from 6/23/2024 to 7/17/2024 and still trying every once in a while to login or sync. Hopefully it continues not to work and I set up the security app when I first got the email so hopefully that keeps them out until they stop trying.