I received a phishing email from my own email address. How do I report it?

Hello t. H,

Welcome to the Microsoft Community.

I am a Microsoft user like you, I hope you are well.

Sorry for the inconvenience. However, I will suggest you ignore and delete such emails as they are likely phishing emails spoofed to look like they were sent from your email but first you can investigate your account.

Did you check your sent folder to verify if the email was sent from your account?

Another way is to check your account sign-in activity to see when and where your account was accessed: https://account.live.com/activity

If you don't find this email in your sent folder or see a successful sign-in that isn't yours, your account was not compromised.

A phishing email is an email that appears legitimate but is actually an attempt to obtain your personal information or steal your money.

Click the link below to learn about:

How to spot a phishing email? Report a message as phishing in Outlook.com How can I identify a suspicious message in my inbox? Report tech support scams

https://support.microsoft.com/office/0d882ea5-eedc-4bed-aebc-079ffa1105a3

Please let me know if you need further assistance.

Give back to the community, help the next person who has this problem by stating whether this answer solved your problem. Click Yes or No below.

Best regards.

The first thing I did was check my sent folder and it wasn't there. I'm not concerned about my account.

I'm just frustrated that I can't report it. I don't want anyone to fall for this ransomware blackmail.

Hi T. H, thank you for reaching out to us.

I'm Gunasekar and I'd be happy to help you with your question.

Microsoft has implemented several measures to prevent spam emails from reaching your inbox, including AI-based filters. However, some spam emails may still slip through the cracks.

A spammer can use any address they want in the From field. They have just spoofed your e-mail address to threaten you. However, if we no longer provide any information or click any link in the e-mail address, we will be still safe. They only collect information when we click links attached to the e-mail. It is a kind of algorithm where it just displays your address.

This is a new kind of phishing attempt as a result of major data breaches over the years by various online services. See:

https://www.businessinsider.com/new-email-scam-uses-old-password-fake-****-threats-webcam-video-bitcoin-2018-7?r=US&IR=T

________________________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.'

________________________________________________________

Other possible reason is that your account might have been hacked. In this instance, it is recommended to check your account recent activity page and protect your account.

a. Go to https://account.live.com/Activity and sign in with your Microsoft account. b. Select recent activity. c. If you see account activity that you're sure wasn't yours, let us know and we'll help you protect your account. If it's in the Unusual Activity section, you can expand the activity and select It wasn't me. If it's in the Recent Activity section, you can expand the activity and select Protect your account.

If there has been no recent activity on your Microsoft account, the messages are most likely spam and you can feel safe. You can move these emails to the spam folder. Additionally, similar concerns have recently been reported to Microsoft in greater numbers.

Help Microsoft stop scammers, whether they claim to be from Microsoft or from another tech company, by reporting tech support scams:

www.microsoft.com/reportascam

However, it is recommended to keep your Microsoft account safe and secure by following the suggestions below.

1. Create a strong password.
2. Enable two-factor authentication.
3. Delete unused devices from your account.

https://support.microsoft.com/help/628538c2-7006-33bb-5ef4-c917657362b9

I hope this information helps you. If you have any questions, please let me know and I will be happy to help you.

Best regards,

Gunasekar N

If someone has an email or form for Microsoft similar to

*** Email address is removed for privacy ***, then please respond.

I'd suggest that you not report as phishing an email that's spoofed to look like it's from your account.

You don't want your email address on any "blocked" lists.

Delete the email. There will probably not be many more.

Don

The past week or two I received 2 emails, in my Junk mail, from my email address but with an extension (***@hotmail.com.gobbledygook23.com). The Report function is grayed out, so I just Deleted.

Also checked my sign in activity, only unsuccessful attempts.

It's helpful to read of others experience and the Advisors recommendations.