Non requested email

Question

Received an email that requested a code that I did not request

Answer 1

Log into your Microsoft account on this link to check the recent activity on your account, do you see any attempted logins from locations/countries that you do not recognize, and if so, are the login attempts indicated as successful.

https://account.live.com/Activity

Answer 2

If an email says a Microsoft verification code was requested but no request was made, treat it as a potential unauthorized sign-in attempt or a mistaken entry by someone else.

Actions to take:

1. Do not use or reply to the code
   • Do not enter the code anywhere or respond to the message. If someone is trying to access the account, they cannot complete sign-in without the code.
2. Verify the sender
   • Check if the email is from @accountprotection.microsoft.com. Microsoft uses this domain for legitimate security notifications and verification codes.
   • If the domain is different or suspicious, treat the email as phishing and delete or report it.
3. Secure the account
   • Sign in directly by typing https://account.microsoft.com in the browser (do not click links in the email).
   • Review recent sign-in activity and security info (phone numbers, email aliases) and remove anything not recognized.
   • Change the password to a strong, unique one.
   • Turn on two-step verification or go passwordless using methods like Microsoft Authenticator, Windows Hello, SMS/email codes, or a security key to reduce the chance of future unauthorized attempts.
4. Ignore repeated unrequested codes
   • Unrequested codes can also occur if someone mistyped the email/phone or if a previously requested code was delayed. As long as the codes are not used, the account remains safe.

If unrequested codes continue frequently, consider going passwordless and reviewing all security info to ensure only trusted contact methods are configured.

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References:

• Can I trust email from the Microsoft account team?
• Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues
• Common problems with two-step verification for a work or school account
• Using Outlook mobile to sign in
• Why is Microsoft texting me?