419 scam: MR GEORGE SIMMON <microsoft.awardpromo_agent@yahoo.co.uk> Attn : Adelhard Weberstein ,

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447045702866 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +448709745174 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- microsoft.awardpromo_agent@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MR GEORGE SIMMON <microsoft.awardpromo_agent@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 19:21:25 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Attn : Adelhard Weberstein ,

Attn : Adelhard Weberstein ,

I am in receipt of your mail,we have not received your information ,we did not receive any attachement from you,do ensure to resend it again.

Dear Sir,

If you found that my English is not impressive, I am abashed but it is not my working language.

I may have previously contacted you regarding a very private matter. Would you please read the attached email and inform me whether things is in order? I am perplexed of the next step to take.

Thank you.

Adelhard Weberstein

--- Forwarded email ---

.com/h/all/i/ms_masthead_8x6a_ltr.jpg" border=3D0>ttp://i2.microsoft.com/h/en-us/i/msnlogo.gif">

Microsoft Award Team
20 Craven Park Harlesd=
en
London NW10
United Kingdom
Ref: BTD/968/05
Batch: 409978E<=
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Dear Winner FONT>

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bsp; WINNING NOTIFICATION

The prestigious Micrsoft and aol has =
set out and sucessfully organised a Sweepstakes marking the new yea=
r 2007 anniversary we rolled out over ?=A35 000.000.00 Five million =
;Great Britain Pounds for our end of year Anniversary Draws. Participant=
s for the draws were randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of web=
hosts which we enjoy their patronage.

The selection was made through a computer draw =
system attaching personalised email addresses to ticket numbers. If you i=
gnore this you will regret it later. Microsoft and AOL are now the large=
st Internet companies and in an effort to make sure that Internet Explore=
r remains the most widely used program Microsoft and AOL are running an =
e-mail beta test.

Your email address as indicated was =
drawn and attached to ticket number 008795727498 with serial numbers BTD/=
9080648302/06 and drew the lucky numbers 14-21-25-39-40-47 20 which subs=
equently won you =A3500 000.00 Five Hundred Thousand Great Britain Pound=
s as one of the 10 jackpot winners in this draw. You have therefor=
e won the entire winning sum of =A3500 000.00 Five Hundred Thousand Grea=
t Britain Pounds . The draws registered as Draw number one was conducted =
in Brockley London United=20
Kingdom on the 10th of January 2007. These Draws are commemorative a=
nd as such special.

Please be informed by this winning notif=
ication to file your claims you are to make contact with your designated =
agent who shall by duty guide you through the process to facilitate the r=
elease of your prize.To file for your claim Please Contact your fiduciary=
agent

t=3D150 src=3D"http://www.gacogop.org/images/email28.gif" width=3D150 ali=
gn=3Dbottom>

Mr George Simmons
Microsoft Promotion Award =
Team
Email: .uk">microsoft.awardpromo_agent@yahoo.co.uk
Phone:+44-704-570-2866=

Fax: +44-870-974- 5174
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You are advised to contact your fiduciary agent with the followin=
g details to avoid unnecessary delays and complications:
IV>

Your Full Names

Country

Ticket Numbers

Batch Number

Serial Number

Lucky Numbers

as indicated in this winning Notification and P=
hone numbers.Thank you for being part of this promotional award program.<=
BR>
Our special thanks and gratitude to Bill Gates and his assoc=
iates.We wish you the
best of luck as you spend your good fortune.Than=
k you for being part of our commemorative new year Anniversary Draws.
=

Sincerely
Dr. Bryan McDonald
Microsoft Promotion Team FONT>

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---------------------------------
MSN Hotmail is evolving =96 check out the new "http://g.msn.com/8HMAENUK/2740??PS=3D47575" target=3D"_top">Windows Live=
Mail

Herzlich willkommen bei der Afrika action. http://www.africa-action.de/

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