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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  1. Anonymous
    2024-10-03T21:51:05+00:00

    Check if all login IDs (emails, email aliases, usernames) associated with the email are secured. In my case, it was an old Skype ID from before the merger with Microsoft that was being targeted!

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-10-03T21:48:15+00:00

    Apparently, there is a "forgot username" feature that lists all login IDs associated with an email, as I just discovered! Use it to check if there are any old login IDs you've forgotten, and log into those accounts to add extra security measures, like 2FA. Hopefully, this will stop the single-use code emails!

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-09-29T03:52:06+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 *** Email address is removed for privacy ***

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

    Hello,

    I'm getting the same thing. It's disconcerting. Is somebody trying to break into my account or is Microsoft having some sort of issue with the automated system?

    Thanks!

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-09-19T05:33:52+00:00

    I received another "single-use code" email today. What's funny is that the email address to which it was sent has been turned off for signing into my personal account. Coincidentally, when I tried to check sign-in activity in the account info today, the page wouldn't load (just a spinning wheel). Could this be some kind of internal issue at Microsoft?

    P.S. I do like the concept of being able to remove (and create a new, random) email alias from the whitelist of sign-in emails. I hope other cloud providers adopt this idea.

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