Microsoft Scam:

Modified: August 5, 2021 5:51pm

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Have you opened an email from Microsoft to find an invoice stating you purchased a Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection Firewall & Network Protection (One Year Subscription) for the amount of $299.99?

Similar to this:

-----Original Message-----
From: 2O21 Microsoft <morgandillon009@gmail.com>
To: ******* ******* <**************@aol.com>
Sent: Mon, Jul 26, 2021 11:31 am
Subject: Your payment has been done $299.99

Microsoft Account

Order Confirmation

Invoice Number : WIN48974984-17228

Customer Id : 112563097

Email : *************@aol.com

Phone : +1 XXX-XXX-XXXX

Invoice Date: July 26, 2021

 
 

Item

Quantity

Total

Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection Firewall & Network Protection (One Year Subscription)

1

$ 299.99

 

Total $ 299.99

 

Dear ******* *******,

If You didn’t make this purchase or if you believe an unauthorized person is attempting to access your Microsoft account Call to our customer care representative +1 202 235 8867 .

This Email confirms payment for the Microsoft Defender listed above. You will be charged each plan period until you cancel by downloading the Microsoft Defender plan from your PC.

You May contact Microsoft for a full refund within 48 Hrs of a monthly Subscription upgrade or within 72 Hrs after yearly payment. Partial refunds are available where required by law.

Regards

Microsoft team
Phone : 12022358867

As one reads through the invoice, they will come across a line that reads, "If You didn't make this purchase or if you believe an unauthorized person is attempting to access your Microsoft account Call to our customer care representative +1 202 235 8867 ."

Microsoft doesn't provide an easy-to-find phone number. Microsoft tries to have consumers reach out and speak with them through their "contact us" https://support.microsoft.com/contactus. Microsoft then has all of your account information readily available to offer assistance.

Watch for red flags which will help you identify the email as fake and not coming from Microsoft, but someone attempting to spoof Microsoft 's well-known name to scam those unsuspecting consumers. 

  1. Microsoft would not send an email from a Gmail account. This notice came from 2O21 Microsoft <morgandillon009@gmail.com>.
  2. Additionally, the O in 2021 is another red flag. Why would Microsoft use a capital letter in the middle of a number?
  3.  There is no physical address or web address to visit for the company. 

When something seems like it isn't legitimate, it usually is not. If you are unsure, do not call the number in the unsolicited email—research the company that sent the communication and located the best way to reach out to them. Then used the phone number you found for the company and reach out to the business. 

If you are having trouble researching an unknown email you received, contact our office for assistance. You can always forward the message to consumerprotection@erie.gov. Please be sure to include your contact information so we can follow up to assist you. 

Expires: 
Friday, November 5, 2021