Outlook Age Verification, locked, demanding payment + personal data

TheDeerDude · 10 May 2018

Hello,

My mother was trying to log into her Outlook Mail account in her web browser. It asked her to enter her DoB (which she already set when she created the account, years ago) and so she did.

Now, Microsoft is demanding either a copy of some official document (passport, driving license, etc) or a "small non-refundable payment" in order to confirm that, my mother who's an adult, is in fact an adult.

She is very upset and distressed by this, because she cannot access some important documents she needs, that are on that account.

Microsoft at its finest - making all the wrong decisions and annoying as many people as possible. Why not verify only the new accounts, and leave the years-old ones in peace? To get that "small non-refundable" payment from all their users? or to gather their personal data?

This is just sick and plain wrong, holding somebody's data hostage, and demanding a payment and personal data.

I am NOT interested in giving in, nor am I interested in calling Microsoft, because they don't care and they don't want to help.

Is there any way to bypass this stupid unnecessary bullsh!t?

Thank you.

slicendice · 10 May 2018

Warning

Be careful and make sure that your computer is not compromised and that someone else isn't trying to fish for your ID and credit card information.

Information

Solution:
All that is just to make sure your data stay safe. Makes it near impossible to hack your account.

You should be happy that it's this way and not the other way where anybody could take control of your account.

You have only two options:
Either resolve this with MS or forget about the files and the account. If you don't want to prove you are you and that you are the rightful owner of the account then there's nothing you can do to get the data back.

You = your mom in this case

Cliff S · 10 May 2018

Sounds like a malware problem to me, I messaged @simrick who is good at malware hunting, to haver her take a look here(when she comes online again).

Have your mother try logging in on another PC's browser using an "InPrivate" window:

When you use InPrivate tabs or windows, your browsing data (like your history, temporary internet files, and cookies) isn't saved on your PC once you're done.
In Microsoft Edge, select the More icon, and then New InPrivate window.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...microsoft-edge

Try3 · 10 May 2018

I have logged in to my Outlook account online and I saw no new checks, I just entered my email address and then my password as normal. I think you ought to assume malware unless/until you find out more from elsewhere.

Denis

TheDeerDude · 10 May 2018

Yes, that is what I thought of as well - malware/some deceptive website trying to lure the user into entering their details. NOPE - this is just Microsoft itself being malicious.

I've been in a very useless chat with their representative who said "well no u can't not do that" gee, thanks. Their excuse for f#@$ing people up is "GDPR" that recently came to exist. So most likely it's just for users in Europe

"Why don't you just send them the document" because they will keep it, and in a few years time it may get sold or misplaced or someone who shouldn't may gain access to it. Yes, it happened plenty of times before, what was that thing in the news about that teenager downloading some confidential stuff, which wasn't protected at all?

slicendice said:

[warn]
All that is just to make sure your data stay safe. Makes it near impossible to hack your account.

You should be happy that it's this way and not the other way where anybody could take control of your account.
[/info]

No, no it isn't. I'm guessing Google Mail isn't safe with its 2-factor authentication? I guess anybody can take control of anyone's account there.
No, I am not happy nor should I be. Would you be happy having things shoved down your throat and being forced to do things, having your important data held hostage? Having them demand a payment in form of currency or personal data? I recommend Ransomware if you're into that sort of thing.

This is just unnecessary and wrong.

Try3 · 10 May 2018

About "chat with their representative" - How did you establish contact with them [i.e. could they be imposters]?

Have you yet managed to get her to go to another computer to log on with?

My country is also very vaguely close to the EU & GDPR will apply once it has come into force [which is not until 25th May]. It has sod all to do with what your mother is experiencing.

I think that you & she are being conned.

Denis

TheDeerDude · 10 May 2018

Denis,

I very much appreciate your suggestion, all I can say is that yes, I'm pretty sure this is the official thing.
The official microsoft domain, the official support chat on the official domain, the security certificate issued by Microsoft, the bot-like-uncanny-valley chat support representative, and this page: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/...rental-consent

Seems legitimate as disturbing and suspicious as it is. If the GDPR (which I'm not at all familiar with) has nothing to do with this, then they are using it just as an excuse.

I'm not sure what to think about this.

Try3 · 10 May 2018

The link you gave me implies that your mother's user account is set up as a child's user account. That is why proof of age is being sought [to prevent access by people under 13, there is a general tightening up of social media rules / general tightening up of enforcement of existing rules].

I do not know anything about changing an online account's status from being that of a child to that of an adult. Perhaps there is information in this forum and I have merely never noticed.

Denis

TheDeerDude · 10 May 2018

The account was made back in 2010. It was set up as a normal account. The live chat representative implied indirectly that they can "detect" accounts (aka choose half of them at random based on nothing) that could possibly belong to, well, not adults.

Try3 · 10 May 2018

I have nothing useful to suggest. I have hunted around for other threads on the subject and have not found any solution other than doing what MS wants i.e. verify adulthood with documents or a credit card.

Denis