Outlook
 

Have been receiving a notice from Outlook that they will discontinue my account unless I list my phone number for their records. I'm uncomfortable with doing that. Looking for advice.

Look at the email address and see where it is coming from. This is a phishing attack.

You can block messages from that address and delete the message.

I've never used Outlook. But that's a Microsoft product. They should already have your phone number, assuming you use Outlook. Try logging in to your Microsoft account. If your phone number is there, then there's no problem at all. If you try logging in and get a message instructing you to complete your registration by adding a phone number, then do so.

I have been using Outlook for probably 2 decades, never asked for a phone number. I use the stand alone (non cloud based) product, maybe there are other requirements for the cloud based version.
However, as noted above look very carefully at the address this was sent from Microsoft, if you are not sure here is a link to report spam:
How to report a phishing or spam email to Microsoft - TechRepublic.

Ignore it. Do not click on any links. They don't need your phone number.

You might not remember having ever provided a phone number in order to open a Microsoft account, but you did. It's the only way you can. You have to provide the code you get from a call, to the account login screen, in order to complete the account setup.

But that's basically your "tell" that it's a scam e-mail.

If you have an outlook account, it means they already have your phone number. If you don't have an outlook account, they don't need it.

I've been using Outlook as my primary email address for a couple of decades, never have I received an email stating these terms. Log into your Microsoft account here Microsoft account | Sign In or Create Your Account Today – Microsoft (copy & paste into your browser.) to learn if you provided your phone number when you initially registered your Microsoft account. If not, add your phone number and delete the email received. In any event, do not respond to the email, do not click on any links within the email!

The only valid need for a phone number is for two factor identification. They would send you a text code for you to type.in order to verify it’s you who is signing in.

Microsoft is in the business of selling memberships to their services. If the have a problem with your registration, they would’ve contacted you long ago & not with a threat. Definitely a scam

It’s not true it’s spam! Do you not give them any information or let them into your computer once you do that you’re gonna get a virus. I get the same email

Scam. Been around for years. Im surprised this is the first youve heard of it

Delete it and don't click on any links.

When you say "notice", do you mean email? Of course, you do. Toss it, it's trash. Outlook (the program or website outlook.com which are both Microsoft) does not require your phone number to use those products or services.

I ordered something online from a reputable company and they demanded a phone number before I could proceed with the order so I put in 352-000-0000 and it then allowed me to continue. I don't know if it will work all the time but you can try it. They had my email address to contact me so there was no need for a phone number.

Call them to varify
 

I would not. If you can call them to verify. Way too much crap going on .

Use your area code then 555-1212 That will do it.
BTW that's the number for information.

Scam! They don`t need your number

It’s a scam don’t do it. Delete the emails then go into your trash or deleted emails and delete again.

I worked for Microsoft. They will not do this. It’s a scam.

Good advice!
 

One additional bit of advice, do NOT use any link in the email to log in. Find your own way to your Microsoft account to verify phone number. 🙏😎

Scam. Delete - don’t click on any links. I received the same message.

By the way, there is another scam going around that I just received for the first time, and it’s from E-ZPass. It says your account failed to replenish because your credit card was refused. At least in the state of NY. Don’t click on any link to “update “ your cc info.

A word to the wise

Scam ?
 

First You can click reply and then click on the return address to see if it's real, then if it is you can get yourself a disposable phone number at Google then use that if you worried about giving out your phone number online

dont do it. Scam

I get 1-2 of those per day ... I finally got over being aggravated and just simply delete. They are bogus and could put spyware on your device if you open the link. Just hit Delete and move on.

Scam, Scam, Scam

Sadly, out current reality is trust no one. You can, should find a number for outlook, find a HUMAN and ask. If, you are told they do need your number you can chose to give it to them.

The company might ask you to forward the e-mail to them. If, you ask they will tell you they will not inform you of the results of their inquiry. Do they check or is the goal just to make you THINK they are doing something?

I do not type in my credit card number for mail order purchases. A friend said I am being stupid. When, you call in an order, you are often talking to some person in a home office. You don't type in your credit card number on the internet, THEY DO IT FOR YOU.

Scam don’t fall for it. Microsoft never calls.
 

Scammers trying to social engineer your info.

Ohiobuckeye
 

If everybody would just ignor this stupid notice what are they going to do, drop everybody’s account! You know this a scam that they’re just trying to control you. Just so you know if I get a notice saying I have to do this & if it comes by mail it goes into file 13 & if I get a notice by email it gets deleted. Why does everybody get so worried about this kind of crap! IF that notice is real, all they’re trying to do is control you, it’s called socialism.

Dont do it. Its most likely a scam.

...if trying to set up a new Outlook account, if you do that, you will not be able to set up the account. It'll be rejected. Why? Because Microsoft will send a code to that phone number, and whoever answers the call/text has to be able to input that code to the new outlook account.

I'll repeat this for y'all in the back row:

IF you are opening a new Microsoft/Outlook Account, you MUST put in a valid phone number.
IF you already have a Microsoft/Outlook account, then at some point in your life, you had already put a valid phone number in.
If you are NOT trying to open a Microsoft/Outlook account, they don't need your number for anything at all.

Outlook is a Microsoft product. If you create a new Outlook mail account, you are using, or opening, a Microsoft account to do so.

Delete that mail!

I have heard that Microsoft is discontinuing Outlook. This is probably somebody trying to cash in on the names and numbers involved. We once were scammed by someone pretending to be Microsoft. It locked our computer and had to have a "geek" fix it.

Nothing new under the sun OR history repeats when we forget it….
 

When Hitler came to power in 1933, my aunt and uncle looked around and said, ‘We’re out of here!’ Uncle’s brother said, ‘What, give up the good life here? We’re German citizens and decorated war heroes [from World War I]. What are you, crazy?!’ (Both brothers were physicians.)

They said, ‘Suit yourself,’ and they left in 1933. The Nazis kept meticulous records, presumably for the same control purposes that OhioBuckeye mentioned, so when my uncle went back to Germany after the war, he used those records that effectively controlled the population to track his brother from home city to concentration camps to crematorium. And they call it ‘fascism.’ They still do. How many millions—to a great extent civilians—died all over Europe as a result of fascism?

‘They’ can call it whatever they want. How is it different today? IMHO, primarily the technology. Nowadays it’s easy for crooks to send these phishing emails, and greed is nothing new either. When I get an email or call that doesn’t seem right, I put it aside and contact the source directly. All but two were phishing; the two that were not were contacting me by the only means I had originally provided them. I trash the phishing emails, then go into the trash to trash them permanently.

Nope, nothing new under the sun, and history repeats itself as we forget it—or choose not to know it….

This is a phishing attack. Do not reply.

Outlook
 

Thanks everyone. Appreciate all your replies.

SCAM. SCAM. Again, been around and circulationg for many years. If they didnt need your number all this time, why would they cancel your acct if you dont give it to them now. Think about it!!!

Why would you do all that?.? They havent had the number all this time so obviously its not mandatory and add that to the fact that this is a common scam that has been circulating for years!!!!

It's called Phishing, go to click on Junk at top of outlook page then click Phishing to report it; I get them all the time - Anytime someone threatens you to take action, it's a good indication it's phishing (pretending to be someone to get you to click on a link). Ignore them.

Don’t do it! Just delete! Scam...we both got the same thing and we have never used outlook...

It's a phishing expedition.