419 scam: Microsoft 2011 Lottery promotion <mrs.viviannasim48@gmail.com> Congratulation you have Won 2011 Microsoft Lottery Promotion

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "microsoft lottery" (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
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 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.
- jsmithgent3@yahoo.co.uk (Yahoo, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Microsoft 2011 Lottery promotion <mrs.viviannasim48@gmail.com>
Reply-To: jsmithgent4@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:41:25 +0100
Subject: Congratulation you have Won 2011 Microsoft Lottery Promotion

Microsoft Award Team
Morley House, 26-30 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BP.U.K.

Batch No: 409978E
Ref No: 919347/749
Winning No: 7-28-87-65-69-73

CONGRATULATION! CONGRATULATION!! CONGRATULATION!!!

Dear Winner,

The prestigious Microsoft/MSN has set out and successfully organized a
Sweepstakes marking the year 2011 anniversary. Rolled out over
$300,000,000.00 for this year Anniversary Draws. Participants for the
draws were randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of web
hosting which we enjoy their patronage.

The MICROSOFT 2011 PROMOTIONS was held on FRIDAY 22TH of JULY 2011 in
Stamford Bridge Stadium, , London United Kingdom.

Your email address has therefore been approved to claim a total sum of
($1M) One million United States Dollars Only in cash credited to File
KPC/9030108308/03.

To file for your claim, please contact your Claiming Agent immediately.

Name: Mr. Johnson Smith
Email: jsmithgent3@yahoo.co.uk

Please provide the following details for processing of your claim.

VERIFICATION FORM

1, Names in full:
2, Country of Residing:
3, Nationality:
4, Residential Address:
5, Date of Birth/Age:
6, Marital Statue/Sex:
7, Tel/Fax:
8, Mobile No:
9, Occupation:
10, Company:
11, Amount Won:
12, Email address:
13, Ref No: 919347/749
14, Winning No:7-28-87-65-69-73

MICROSOFT LOTTERY PROMOTION 2011
Microsoft has obtained your contact details from public internet
sources. We thought that you could be attracted to be part of this
promotion with our company
© Copyright 2011 Microsoft Lottery promotion All Right Reserve"

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam