I keep getting emails for a single-use code.

Anonymous
2023-08-07T16:14:20+00:00

Hi,

I keep getting emails for a single use code in my email. I probably receive 10 emails a day for the past few weeks. And I haven't been trying to request a code.

Email says:

We received your request for a single-use code to use with your Microsoft account.

Your single-use code is: 4*****7

If you didn't request this code, you can safely ignore this email. Someone else might have typed your email address by mistake.

Thanks,

The Microsoft account team

It's quite annoying. The email sender is from ___@___.___

I would like to stop getting these emails as I'm not trying request a code.

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Account management, security, and privacy

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Anonymous
2023-08-07T16:45:37+00:00

Hello Priscilla_A,

Welcome to the Microsoft community.

I'm a Microsoft user like you, I hope you're doing well?

I understand how discomforting it can be to receive a one-time security code for your account when you didn't initiate.

However, it's a good idea to ignore this code if you haven't requested it.

One-time code is an essential security feature that prevents unauthorized access to your account. One-time code is required to access your account. These codes can be used only once and has expiration time for their usage.

You may receive one-time code emails if:

  1. Signing into your Microsoft account from a new device or browser.
  2. Resetting your Microsoft account password.
  3. Making changes to your Microsoft account security information.
  4. Signing into your Microsoft account from a new location.
  5. Unusual and suspicious activity is detected on your Microsoft account.

If someone mistakenly enters your account email ID, you can't stop them, that's out of your control (you don't know who it is), All you can do is ignore it, as suggested in the email.

The same applies if someone may be trying to intentionally access your Microsoft account, a one-time code is a security feature that prevents this unauthorised access.

You don't control the actions of others, hence you can't stop it.

If there was a way to stop it, Microsoft would state it in an email rather than suggesting you to ignore it any one-time code you did not initiate.

I will suggest you check your Microsoft account sign-in activity to make sure there are no unauthorised access. You can see a list of devices and browsers that have accessed your account recently.

Microsoft account management website: https://account.live.com/Activity

Here are a few things you can do to make your Microsoft account more secured:

  1. Create a strong password for your account
  2. Use the Microsoft Authenticator phone app to sign in without a password
  3. Make your account easier to recover
  4. Make sure your operating system has the latest updates
  5. Never reply to email asking for your password
  6. Check your recent activity
  7. Keep your devices safe

Click link below for more information:

https://support.microsoft.com/help/628538c2-7006-33bb-5ef4-c917657362b9

If you are receiving blackmail emails, please report this issue to the nearest authorities.

Please let me know if you need any further assistance.

Give back to the community, help the next person who has this problem by pointing out if this answer solved your problem. Click "Yes" or "No" below.

Warm Regards

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137 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-04-26T12:03:24+00:00

    This is a message to Microsoft.

    I've received 12 emails about this in the past 2 hours that I've not requested. Furthermore, I've received the emails in my gmail account not my hotmail one.

    Microsoft, do you think I can ignore them?

    You have to change the implementation of the code request to avoid this situation.

    Thanks

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-04-26T11:13:02+00:00

    I am getting the same emails at least once a day & I'm not signing in from any new accounts or hardware nor did I request a code. They come from, "Microsoft account team <******@accountprotection.microsoft.com>."

    Cut and paste as follows:

    Your single-use code is: 071616

    If you didn't request this code, you can safely ignore this email. Someone else might have typed your email address by mistake.

    Thanks,

    The Microsoft account team

    Privacy Statement: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=521839

    Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052

    TY,

    BG

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  4. Ron-6928 4,991 Reputation points
    2024-04-18T16:45:28+00:00

    I guess it depends on your account settings. In my case, all I do is entering my hotmail address in username field. The next screen is the following:

    It does not ask for a password. Does not ask me to complete (@ yahoo) email address. It just thinks my 20 character alphanumeric + symbols password is not necessary. Microsoft replaces that with an easier to guess 6 digits code to help hackers break into our mailbox.

    That can also be used to spam and annoy my yahoo mailbox forever.

    I thank Microsoft for lowering security. They'll do everything they can to help account takeovers to succeed. I empty my mailbox content and contacts for that reason before someone takes over my account by luck. I can afford to do that because I don't really use my hotmail account.

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