Hotmail is hacked

Question

Last Thursday my husband and former colleague received invites from my hotmail account. Now I am unable to receive emails. My junk email is still receiving emails.

Please let me know who can help with this issue.

Regards

Carol

Answer 1

Hi Carol Killian

Thank you for explaining what happened. As you mentioned, contacts received invitation emails from your Hotmail address, and since then you’re no longer receiving regular emails, while Junk Email is still coming in. 

I can see the previous reply already covered account recovery and security steps. To avoid repeating it, have you already tried those steps? Could you also confirm does this happen with all incoming emails, or just specific ones?

Meanwhile, please try the steps below:

1, Secure your account first

• Go to: https://account.microsoft.com/security > Manage how I sign in
• Remove any unfamiliar sign‑in methods you don’t recognize 
• Check the list of devices associated with your account
• If you notice anything unusual, change to a strong password and Sign out everywhere
• Turn on Two-step verification: How to use two-step verification with your Microsoft account - Microsoft Support
• Check Recent activity: https://account.microsoft.com/activity and choose This wasn’t me/ Secure your account for anything you don’t recognize.

2, Check for hidden rules or forwarding

Sign in to Outlook on the web and:

• Go to Settings > Mail > Rules and delete any rules you didn't create (rules that moves, deletes incoming mail)
• Also check Settings > Mail > Forwarding to ensure forwarding is disabled

3, Check mailbox storage

If your storage is full, Outlook won’t send or receive. Check storage (Settings > Account > Storage) and free up space if needed. You can see Mailbox storage limits in Outlook - Microsoft Support

4, Check your internet connection

• Make sure your device has a stable internet connection and try switching networks (e.g., from Wi-Fi to mobile hotspot) then test again.
• Check from a different browser/device or from an InPrivate/Incognito window,
• If needed, clear the browser cache/cookies for Outlook.com.

For more details, you can also see Email is missing from your Outlook.com inbox - Microsoft Support

Please feel free to let me know how it goes so I can guide you further. Thank you for your time and understanding.

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Answer 2

The account shows classic signs of compromise (sending unwanted invites and now not receiving normal mail). Use Microsoft’s official recovery and security tools, then contact Outlook.com support if the issue persists.

1. Recover and secure the Microsoft/Hotmail account

• Use the Microsoft account sign-in helper to start recovery and unblock flows:
  • If sign-in is failing or the account is blocked, go to the Sign-in Helper from the “Unblock my Outlook.com account” article and follow the prompts.
• If the account was hacked, use the dedicated recovery flow described in “How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account”:
  • Start from the recovery tool: Start.
  • Follow the steps to verify identity and secure the account.

2. Check mailbox storage and account block status

• If Microsoft cloud storage (Outlook.com mailbox + OneDrive) is full, Outlook.com will not send or receive email (messages bounce and are unrecoverable). Check storage using the mailbox storage link in “Can’t send or receive email in Outlook.com” and free space if needed.
• If the account is temporarily blocked due to unusual sign-in activity, use the Sign-in Helper from “Unblock my Outlook.com account” to remove the block.

3. Fix the “not receiving emails” issue

• Since junk mail is still arriving, focus on filters and blocked senders:
  • Sign in to Outlook.com or Outlook on the web.
  • Go to Settings > Mail (or Options) > Blocked senders or Block and allow.
  • Remove any legitimate senders or domains that should not be blocked.
• Also review rules and forwarding (not fully detailed in the context, but this is standard guidance when hacked): remove any suspicious rules or forwarding that might be redirecting mail.

4. If the account was hacked and behavior continues

• Follow the hacked-account guidance: start from the “How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account” article and use the Start tool to:
  • Regain control.
  • Change password.
  • Review security info and sign-in activity.

5. Get direct Outlook.com support

• If, after securing the account and checking storage/blocked senders, normal mail still does not arrive, contact Outlook.com support:
  • Sign in to Outlook.com.
  • Select Help on the menu bar, describe the problem, then scroll to Still need help? and choose Yes to open a support request or chat.

If sign-in is not possible at all, use the Microsoft account sign-in helper and the hacked-account recovery tool first; those are the only supported ways to restore access and then reach Outlook.com support.

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References:

• Can't send or receive email in Outlook.com
• Unblock my Outlook.com account
• How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account
• Where are my email messages or calendar events in Mail and Calendar for Windows 10?
• Receiving email from blocked senders in Outlook.com
• Hacked email and I cannot receive any email on the hacked account - Microsoft Q&A
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