Jake Peterson

Jake Peterson Senior Technology Editor

Experience

Jake Peterson is Lifehacker’s Tech Editor, and has been covering tech news and how-tos for nearly a decade. His team covers all things technology, including AI, smartphones, computers, game consoles, and subscriptions.

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May 21, 2026

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Key Takeaways

Scammers are abusing a legitimate Microsoft email address to make it look like their messages are official.

Users checking the authenticity of the address may be tricked into believing the message is legitimate, but, in fact, it contains phishing links.

Even if the email address is legit, there are other tells you can look for to know whether the message is a scam.

Table of Contents

We all get enough spam messages these days that we can avoid the obvious scams: If an unknown number texts you asking for money, or a spammy email address warns you about a computer virus,…