Is this a scam or real?

Question

I received something from Microsoft asking to fill in some data by Feb.16, 2026 or my email account would disappear. I am afraid it is a scam to get my information, or did Microsoft send out such a request?

Answer 1

Hello @Barbara Lambropoulos,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

I understand your concern regarding the email you received stating that your account would disappear if you do not provide information by February 16, 2026. It is absolutely reasonable to be cautious in this situation.

To help determine whether this message is legitimate or a scam, could you please provide

• the screenshot of the email, including the sender’s address and subject line.
• the message header of this email. For instruction, please follow this article: View internet message headers in Outlook

Please send this information via Private Message to protect your personal information. I have sent you a Private Message, which you can find at the top of this thread.

In the meantime, please do not click on any links or download any attachments from that email until we confirm whether it is legitimate. We look forward to your reply so we can assist you further.

Answer 2

It sounds like the email you received may be a scam. Microsoft does not send unsolicited emails asking for personal information or threatening account deletion. Legitimate communications from Microsoft will come from official domains such as @microsoft.com or @account.microsoft.com. If the email you received is from a different domain, it is likely a phishing attempt.

To verify the legitimacy of the email, do not click on any links or provide any personal information. Instead, you can log into your Microsoft account directly through the official website to check for any notifications regarding your account. If you suspect it is a scam, you can report it to Microsoft.

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References:

• How do I know if an email from Microsoft support is genuine?
• I think I'm being scammed, but I want to make sure. (Though I may be in the wrong place.) - Microsoft Q&A