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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

500+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

137 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Anonymous
    2024-06-12T00:28:48+00:00

    log into your Microsoft account and click under your account to security and look at the recent sign in activity. I get like 20-30 a day from all over the world.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2024-05-29T07:17:34+00:00

    Hi Priscilla,

    I have also fallen victim to this spam amd it is clearly unauthorised users trying to gain access to my account and a possible security risk.

    Possible solution: inform the account holder of the location of the sign in attempt and maybe the IP or MAC of the device and give the account holder an option to block any sign in from that location or device / IP etc.

    Hopefully this feedback can be of some use.

    Regards

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Ron-6928 4,991 Reputation points
    2024-05-15T21:42:32+00:00

    My 2FA is disabled. Microsoft only has my other email address for recovery purpose. I didn't give them my phone number. When I sign in, the login prompt automatically sends 6 digit single use code to the recovery email and tells me to use that to sign in. It never asks me to enter my long/complex password.

    There's another discussion (see link) with a similar issue and the user has his/her 2FA enabled. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook_com/forum/all/two-step-authentication-says-its-turned-on-but/b9da1431-1629-4170-a712-4ef61b63b95c

    As for the other topic about banks forcing us to use our phone as a second factor, I wouldn't worry about losing my phone which is fingerprint (or face recognition) protected. The biggest problem is SIM card takeover or SIM swap scam. To make it worse, most banks force us to use phone number as the 2nd factor and offer no other options like authentication apps.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2024-05-14T09:38:15+00:00

    Excellent reply!

    MS should give a chance/right to us to fix a region/country to signing in, and the right to change it when we move to another region, for example, for a vacation. That way, someone trying to trying to sign in from another region/country would be automatically blocked.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments