Fraudulent e-mail that requests credit card information sent to Microsoft customers
 If you receive an e-mail message from Microsoft that asks you to update your credit card information because of a recent change in Microsoft policy, do not respond. This e-mail is part of a phishing scam that is designed to steal your money or to install unwanted software on your computer. To learn more about these kinds of scams, watch our short video called What you should know about phishing identity-theft scams. Important: Even though it may appear that these e-mail messages were sent to you by Microsoft, they were not. Microsoft does not send unsolicited e-mail requesting personal or financial information. Does Microsoft need my credit card information to validate my copy of Windows?No, Microsoft does not need your credit card information to validate your copy of Windows. Beginning in the second half of 2005, Microsoft began to require that you validate your copy of Windows XP in order to obtain programs from the Microsoft Download Center and to receive software updates from Microsoft Update. At no time during the validation process does Microsoft request your credit card information. In fact, Microsoft does not collect any information such as your name, e-mail address, or other personal details that could be used to identify you or contact you. To learn more, read the Microsoft Genuine Advantage Privacy Policy. To learn more about the program in general, see About Genuine Microsoft Software. What if I've already responded to an e-mail scam?If you've already responded to this scam with personal information, please read What to do if you've responded to a phishing scam. Some fraudulent e-mail may also lead you to Web sites that may install software on your computer that continues to record information you enter. This kind of unwanted software is often called spyware and may even contain a virus. To get help cleaning your system, download and install Windows Defender and the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. How can I tell if an e-mail message I receive from Microsoft is a scam?Microsoft will not send you unsolicited e-mail requesting credit card information, passwords, or other personally identifying information. To find out what to look for in a fake e-mail message and to see examples of scams that appear to have come from Microsoft, read How to tell if a Microsoft security-related message is genuine. Where can I find more information about phishing and spyware?To learn more about phishing, read Help prevent identity theft from phishing scams. For more information about spyware, read What you need to know about spyware. To help protect yourself against spyware and other unwanted software, use Windows Defender or other updated antispyware software. |
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