How to Recover Deleted Outlook Emails and Skype Messages After a Scam
Question details
The user needs to recover Outlook emails and Skype conversations deleted by a scammer for law enforcement reporting and personal records.
- Product
- Microsoft Outlook
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Recovering digital evidence and personal communications after an account compromise or online scam.
- Observed behavior
- Entire mailbox contents, including emails and Skype conversations, have disappeared or been deleted by a malicious actor.
Immediately secure your Microsoft account by changing your password, signing out of all connected sessions, and enabling two-factor authentication before attempting any data recovery.
Recover from Deleted Items and Recoverable Items Folders
Attackers often delete emails from the Inbox but may forget to empty the trash or the hidden recoverable items folder.
When items are deleted from an Outlook mailbox, they are first moved to the Deleted Items folder. If emptied from there, they move to a hidden Recoverable Items folder where they stay for a set retention period (usually 14 to 30 days) before being permanently purged.
Open Outlook and navigate to your folder list on the left pane. Click on the 'Deleted Items' folder to see if your missing emails are still there.
If the Deleted Items folder is empty, look for a link at the top of the folder that says 'Recover items deleted from this folder' and click it.
Select the messages you want to restore from the Recoverable Items window, choose 'Restore Selected Items', and click 'OK'.
Utilize the Microsoft Email Recovery Add-in
If messages are awaiting Exchange to purge them, this official add-in can scan for and restore them to a new folder.
Request Administrator Assistance for eDiscovery
If you are using a Microsoft 365 work or school account, your IT administrator may have access to retention policies and audit logs.
Protect and Manage Your Documents Safely with WPS Office
While WPS Office cannot recover Microsoft server data like Outlook emails or Skype messages, it serves as an excellent, secure, and free alternative for managing your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Enjoy seamless compatibility with Microsoft formats in a lightweight suite.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office installer for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
- 3. Open your Microsoft files: Launch WPS Office and directly open any existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files with perfect formatting preservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover deleted Skype messages after a scam?
Generally, deleted Skype conversations are permanently removed from Microsoft's servers and cannot be recovered unless you had previously exported and saved a backup of your chat history locally.
Why did the Email Recovery add-in fail to install?
Installation failures often occur if you are using an account type that doesn't support Exchange add-ins (like IMAP/POP), or if your organization's IT administrator has restricted the installation of third-party or custom add-ins.
Will the scammer still have access to my emails if I recover them?
Not if you have properly secured your account. You must change your password, log out of all unfamiliar connected devices, and enable two-step verification immediately before starting the recovery process.
Can law enforcement retrieve my permanently deleted Outlook emails?
Law enforcement can issue a legal request to Microsoft, but successful retrieval depends entirely on whether the data still exists on the servers. Data that has been purged past Microsoft's maximum retention period cannot be recovered.
