Received an email about a monthly fee for cashback?

Question

I received an email from maccount@microsoft.com claiming that if I do not redeem my cashback balance, I will be charged a $5 maintenance fee. Every link in the email appears to be legitimate (they all send to microsoft websites) and the sender is an actual Microsoft email. Is there any clarification as to what is going on here? Feels like a scam, but considering they knew my name and email, and everything goes to official websites, I just want to check.

Answer 1

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

Microsoft has implemented several AI-powered filters to detect and block spam and phishing emails. However, some SPAM messages like these may occasionally get through these filters.

The message itself appears to be a phishing/scam email that **"**you will be charged a $5 maintenance fee." Microsoft does not charge a maintenance fee for the services it provides.Even if the sender appears to be using a Microsoft domain address, please do not click any links or provide any personal or account information. The hackers can spoof any email address.

Report the message to Microsoft:

You can report the email to Microsoft by selecting the Report option and then choose Report phishing. Microsoft can then investigate the reported message and the sender.

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Answer 2

This is most likely a phishing email, and there is no indication that a legitimate Microsoft cashback program should charge a $5 monthly maintenance fee just because cashback was not redeemed. That kind of urgency or fee threat is a common scam tactic.

A few checks from Microsoft guidance match that conclusion:

1. Verify the sender domain carefully. Microsoft account team messages can come from @accountprotection.microsoft.com, and Microsoft support uses domains such as microsoft.com, microsoftsupport.com, mail.support.microsoft.com, office365support.com, and techsupport.microsoft.com.
2. Even if links appear to go to Microsoft sites, remain cautious. Microsoft recommends not clicking suspicious links or attachments and instead checking the destination by hovering over the link.
3. In Outlook, warning signs include an unverified sender, a ? in the sender image, a via tag, or a banner saying the sender could not be verified.
4. If the message is unexpected, especially if it mentions charges or asks for action to avoid a fee, treat it as suspicious.

Safe next steps:

• Do not click any more links in that email.
• Check the sender details and message headers.
• Report the message as phishing in Outlook.
• If concerned, check the cashback or rewards status only by signing in directly through the official Microsoft site, not through the email.
• If any password, payment, or personal information was entered after following the email, secure the account immediately and review recent account activity.

The similar Microsoft Q&A case about a cashback email with a $5 monthly fee states that this is almost certainly a phishing scam and that there is nothing to cancel as long as no information was provided.

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• cashback issue - Microsoft Q&A I received an email re cashback. I do not use this. The email said if I don't use this, I would receive a monthly fee for $5.00. How do I cancel the cashback?

Answer 3

I too got this email & thought it was a scam, but Microsoft's own AI says while its not possible for unused balances, it is for idle accounts.