Authenticator lock loop

Question

Got a series of EMERGENCY messages from Microsoft support claiming suspicious activity

Forced to reset pass word.

Reset password locked me out of authenticator which forced me to a link to my email then to reset the password/

Tried to call support and told to go to the web site. Went to the web site and back to the same loop.

Microsoft offers ZERO support and now my home account is locked out and we are unable to do work.

Meantime I keep getting suspicious activity nonsense but no way to chek.

Answer 1

Hi Marc A,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

I’m really sorry to hear you’re stuck in a frustrating loop with Microsoft Authenticator and account recovery. I completely understand how stressful this situation can be, especially when it’s affecting your ability to work. From what you described, it sounds like you have encountered phishing scams designed to start this exact chain of events.

The goal of the scam was to panic you into "resetting" your password, and the scammers captured your new one. They then used that password to try to log into your account, triggering the real Microsoft security system, which then flagged all your coming activities as suspicious and locked the account for your protection. Here’s what I recommend:

1 - Use the Recovery form: If you're locked out and can't verify via Authenticator, try the Microsoft account recovery form: https://account.live.com/acsr

Note: The key is to be patient and provide as much accurate information as possible. This is the best way to recover a personal account when standard methods fail.

2 - Check for alternate sign-in options like backup email, phone number, or security key.

3 - Authenticator reset: try reinstalling the app and signing in again.

4 - Contact Microsoft Support for Account Recovery at support.microsoft.com/account-recovery

This is the correct way to prove your identity and break the loop that the scammers created. The process is designed to be secure, which is why it can be slow and frustrating. Unfortunately, there is no way to bypass it. The lack of direct human support is a known issue for personal Microsoft accounts, and I'm truly sorry for the situation you're in. You are doing all the right things!

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