The Truth About the “Microsoft Storage Limit Exceeded” Scam

A deceptive phishing scam impersonating Microsoft has been making the rounds through inboxes everywhere. This fraudulent email carries the subject line “Microsoft storage limit exceeded. Action required.” It aims to dupe unsuspecting recipients into providing their private account credentials and sensitive information.

This cunning cyberattack combines urgency, impersonation, and deception to manipulate users. If you receive an email like this, it’s crucial to recognize that it does not actually come from Microsoft. This in-depth guide will provide extensive details on how this scam operates, who it targets, and most importantly, how to protect yourself.

An In-Depth Overview of the Microsoft Storage Limit Exceeded Scam

This phishing scam leverages the trusted Microsoft brand as a lure to lower recipients’ guard. The attack email claims the user’s OneDrive storage limit has been reached, impacting access to files, photos, backups, and Outlook email.

To incite urgency, it states that the recipient can no longer save new files, sync devices, or send Outlook emails until they “upgrade their Microsoft 365 plan.” It provides a prominent call-to-action button to “Get More Storage.”

How the Deceptive Email Is Constructed

The scam email uses the following deceptive and manipulative tactics:

• Sender Address Spoofing – The “from” email address is disguised to appear it originated from a legitimate Microsoft domain like accounts@microsoft.com.
• Official Microsoft Branding – The email incorporates Microsoft logos, fonts, colors, and other branding elements to look authentic.
• Urgent Warning Message – The content warns the user is at risk of losing access to their files, backups, and email if action isn’t taken quickly.
• Upsell Offer – It states upgrading the Microsoft 365 plan will conveniently resolve the storage limits right away.
• Call-to-Action Button – A prominent button with urgent wording like “Get More Storage Now” prompts immediate click-through.
• Phishing Link – The CTA button contains a disguised link to a fake Microsoft login page to harvest account credentials.
• Account Specifics Omitted – It does not include any account names, storage amounts, or other specifics that would identify the scam.
• Technical Jargon – Terms like “storage limit,” “OneDrive,” and “Outlook” are used to sound like a legitimate system notification.

Mass Targeting of Microsoft Users

The criminals send these scam emails out en masse to millions of potential victims across the globe. By spraying the attack broadly, they increase the chances of snaring people who use Outlook email and OneDrive storage.

Email addresses are harvested in large quantities from past data breaches, malware infections, website registrations, public records, and other sources. If your email is included in any database from a breach, you are likely to receive this scam attempt.

The impersonation of Microsoft makes the attack email appear credible on the surface. Recipients are more likely to let their guard down when they think an urgent notice comes directly from Microsoft itself.

An In-Depth Explanation of How the Microsoft Phishing Scam Works

If a recipient falls for the scam and clicks the “Get More Storage” button, they are redirected to a fake Microsoft login page cloned from the real Outlook and OneDrive sites. This phishing site looks authentic with copied branding elements, web layouts, images, and text.

Because it is hosted on servers controlled by the scammers, any login credentials entered on the site go directly to the criminals rather than Microsoft’s real servers.

How the Phishing Site Steals Microsoft Account Credentials

When victims arrive at the phishing page, they see a screen nearly identical to the real Microsoft site prompting them to log in with their Microsoft account credentials.

Believing they are on Microsoft’s legitimate domain, the user enters their email address and password into the provided form. These credentials transmit securely in the background directly to the scammers’ servers where they are harvested.

In some variations, the fake login page requests more extensive profile information beyond just a password. This allows the criminals to build a more complete profile for identity theft.

Once submitted, the phishing site redirects to a generic error page or Microsoft’s real homepage. This completes the illusion that the victim logged into Microsoft’s real website. The scammers now have full access to their Microsoft account.

How Criminals Leverage the Stolen Microsoft Account Access

Armed with stolen usernames and passwords, the attackers gain entry to both the victim’s Outlook email and OneDrive cloud storage if activated for that account.

Within Outlook, scammers can potentially:

• Access and read all current and past emails
• Download email attachments that may contain sensitive documents
• Access contact lists to target associates with more scams
• Forward emails to outside accounts to silently collect future messages
• Leverage emails for identity theft of the victim and contacts
• Delete emails and embed rules to hide their activities

Within OneDrive, criminals may:

• Access, extract or delete personal photos, documents, videos and any files
• Search files for financial statements, tax records, or passwords
• Upload malicious files like ransomware to encrypted and attack other devices synced to OneDrive
• Modify or delete files and cloud backups to cause data loss

Access to both OneDrive and Outlook provides a wealth of data the criminals can exploit and sell. Once inside the account, scammers often enable rules and notifications to receive copies of future emails without the victim’s knowledge.

Malware Installation Variations

In some cases, rather than phish for credentials, the scam site attempts to infect the visitor’s device with malware.

This is often achieved by prompting the victim to “Enable OneDrive” or “Upgrade OneDrive.” Doing so triggers a file download instead of increasing storage.

This downloaded file when opened infects the computer or smartphone with malicious software like an information-stealing Trojan or ransomware.

Now with a malware foothold, the attackers can harvest files, track keystrokes to steal passwords, covertly take screenshots, and spy through the webcam. The victimized device is fully compromised.

What to Do If You Get Tricked by the Microsoft Storage Limit Scam

If you suspect you may have fallen victim and entered your account credentials into a phishing site, follow these steps right away:

Step 1) Scan Devices for Malware

Run full antivirus scans on all computers and mobile devices to check for infections from downloaded files. Uninstall or delete any unfamiliar programs.

Look for signs of malware like pop-ups, lagging, freezes, or unexpectedly disabled antivirus software. Wipe and reset devices if infections are found.

Step 2) Change Microsoft Account Credentials

• Log into your Microsoft account immediately and change your password. Make it long, complex, and not used on any other accounts.
• Enable two-factor authentication for enhanced security if available.
• Review recently used devices in account settings and revoke access for any unknown or suspicious devices.

Step 3) Review Recent Microsoft Account Activity

• Closely check OneDrive and Outlook activity for anything suspicious, including:
• Deleted or missing emails
• New forwarding rules or filters
• Unknown files uploaded to OneDrive
• Deleted or altered OneDrive files
• Unfamiliar devices accessing the account
• Download a copy of your emails from Outlook and OneDrive files to preserve evidence in case of losses.

Step 4) Remove Linked Accounts and Payment Methods

• In your Microsoft account settings, unlink any connected social media, email, financial, or other accounts the hackers could access.
• Remove any stored credit cards or payment accounts to prevent fraudulent charges.

Step 5) Reset Passwords On Other Accounts

If you reused the same password on other accounts, change it everywhere immediately. Focus on financial, work, social media, and email accounts first.

Step 6) Monitor Your Credit and Accounts

• Place fraud alerts on your credit files and consider freezing your credit to block identity theft and new accounts.
• Obtain your free credit reports to review for any accounts opened without authorization.
• Closely monitor financial statements and account activity for signs of abuse of your information.

Step 7) Contact Microsoft Support

• Notify Microsoft Support about the compromised account and phishing attack. They can help secure your account and watch for further unauthorized activity.
• Provide details on exactly when and where you entered your login credentials.

Step 8) Warn Contacts Who May Have Gotten Scam Emails

Let your friends, family, and colleagues know to watch for suspicious emails if the scammers accessed your contacts. Criminals often target contacts next using compromised accounts.

Step 9) Reinstall Software and Restore Data

On affected devices, perform factory resets to wipe them clean after backing up your files. Reinstall operating systems and software from scratch rather than from backups. Restore personal data only after the system is cleaned.

How to Spot This Outlook Phishing Scam Before It’s Too Late

The clever social engineering tactics used in the “Microsoft storage limit exceeded” phishing scam can fool many cautious users. Here are some tips to help identify and avoid this malicious attack:

Be Wary of Urgent Unsolicited Emails

Microsoft and other major companies will not suddenly contact you with urgent account notices via unsolicited email. Any legitimate notifications would be delivered through trusted channels like pre-established message centers or when logged into the real website.

Verify the Sender Address

Don’t rely on the “from” name shown. Use the email header details or properties to examine the actual underlying sender address. Hover to display the real domain, which is often mismatched or suspicious for phishing emails.

Look for Missing Personal Details

Real notifications from Microsoft include specifics like your account name, storage used, account type, and other personalized details. Lack of these specifics is a red flag.

Don’t Trust Links or Attachments

Never click links or download attachments from unsolicited emails. Even if the message looks real, the links lead to phishing sites. Manually navigate to any websites you need.

Watch for Poor Spelling and Grammar

Phishing emails often contain typos, grammatical mistakes, awkward phrasing, and other writing flaws a large company like Microsoft would not make.

Verify Through Other Channels

Check directly within your Microsoft account or contact customer service to see if there are really any storage, billing, or account issues.

Use Caution on Mobile Devices

The small screens make it harder to inspect emails closely on smartphones and tablets. View on a larger screen if possible and be extra vigilant.

Keep Software Up to Date

Ensure your operating system, antivirus software, browsers, and other applications have the latest security patches which may block newly discovered phishing tactics.

Secure Accounts with MFA

Enable multi-factor authentication and other enhanced security options for Microsoft and other sensitive accounts. This prevents criminals from accessing accounts with only stolen passwords.

Is Your Device Infected? Check for Malware

If your device is running slowly or acting suspicious, it may be infected with malware. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is a great option for scanning your device and detecting potential malware or viruses. The free version can efficiently check for and remove many common infections.  

Malwarebytes can run on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Depending on which operating system is installed on the device you’re trying to run a Malwarebytes scan, please click on the tab below and follow the displayed steps.

Frequently Asked Questions About the “Microsoft Storage Limit Exceeded” Scam

What is the “Microsoft storage limit exceeded” scam?

This is a phishing scam where targets receive an email pretending to be from Microsoft, warning them that the storage limit on their Microsoft OneDrive account has been reached. It provides a fake button to “increase storage” which actually leads to a phishing site to harvest login credentials.

Why does this phishing attack say my Microsoft storage is full?

The criminals behind this scam are posing as Microsoft and making up an urgent storage limit issue. There is no actual problem with your Microsoft storage. This fake emergency is to encourage you to click their links quickly without checking carefully.

How did the scammers get my email address?

The attackers likely obtained your email through a data breach or by purchasing stolen email lists online. They send these phishing attempts to millions of addresses at once, hoping some Microsoft users fall victim.

Does this mean my Microsoft account is hacked?

No, receiving this email does not mean your Microsoft account has been compromised at this point. It is simply a mass phishing attempt trying to steal credentials. As long as you don’t click their links, your account remains secure.

What happens if I click the “Get More Storage” link?

The link goes to a fake Microsoft login page operated by the scammers. If you enter your username and password, the criminals will capture them and gain access to your Microsoft account, including email and files.

How can I tell this email isn’t really from Microsoft?

Real notifications from Microsoft would never include an urgent warning or links to correct problems. Carefully inspecting the sender address also reveals it is not really a Microsoft domain.

What should I do if I entered my credentials into the phishing site?

If you supplied your username and password, immediately change your Microsoft password, enable 2-factor authentication, check for malware, monitor account activity closely for unauthorized actions, and contact Microsoft support.

How can I protect myself from this Microsoft phishing scam?

Be wary of unsolicited emails, don’t click links, check sender addresses, avoid entering credentials into websites you didn’t navigate to yourself, and use unique secure passwords on all accounts.

What should I do if I receive this phishing email?

Do not click any links or buttons. Forward the scam email to Microsoft at phish@office365.microsoft.com and delete the message. You can also report the scam attempt in your Microsoft 365 admin center under Threat management.

Conclusion: Don’t Get Tricked by Convincing Microsoft Phishing Scams

Sophisticated phishing scams impersonating Microsoft and other major companies are on the rise. Always exercise caution with unsolicited emails, no matter how genuine they may appear on the surface.

Remember that Microsoft will never email you out of the blue regarding account issues and provide links to correct problems. Any legitimate notifications would appear within your account portal or official Microsoft apps.

If you receive an urgent email claiming your Microsoft account storage is full, forward the message to Microsoft’s phishing reporting email before deleting it: phish@office365.microsoft.com. Simply trusting the Microsoft branding could result in stolen credentials, data loss, identity theft, and malware infection.

With vigilance and security smarts, you can protect yourself and your data from these convincing phishing scams aiming to harvest your sensitive information. Don’t let urgency or slick branding trick you next time.