419 scam: "MICROSOFT"<micsotclaimsverification@live.co.uk> CONGRATULATION

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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "gsfs@live.co.uk" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +447017600689 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +447014235117 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "MICROSOFT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <m.claimscenter@live.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2011 02:42:39 +0530
Subject: CONGRATULATION

Dear Lucky Winner,

The Board of Directors, members of staff and the International Awareness Promotion Department of the MICROSOFT INTERNET PROMO, wishes to congratulate you on your success, as one of our Ten (10) Star Prize winners in our 2011 International Awareness Promotion (IAP) MICROSOFT PROMO DRAWS held in London, UK. This makes you a cash Prize of £850,000.00 GBP (Eight hundred and fifty thousand Great British Pounds). Your EMAIL ID was selected among 80,000 individual/cooperate EMAIL IDS from 45 INTERNET networks from Australia, New Zealand, America, India, electronically which made you the confirmed and certified winner
Of £850,000.00 GBP (Eight hundred and fifty thousand British Pounds) in on Going MICROSOFT PROMO Online anniversary Draw 2011 Edition worldwide.

A Cash Prize of £850,000.00 GBP has been issued in your Favour By the MICROSOFT COMPANY PROMOTION BOARD, UK.You are to indicate prefer mode of prize collection.
(A) CASH DELIVERY (Diplomatic baggage) at your house address in your country.
(B) BANK DRAFT (Issued by our paying bank. ABSA BANK PLC.LONDON)
(C)BANK TRANSFER, In this case you have to open On-account with BARCLAYS
You are required to contact GLOBAL SECURITY AND FREIGHT SERVICES UK, via email OR Call the company immediately for confirmation Contact Person: Mr. Mauncio Gacia (Dispatch officer), you are advice to forward your Full Details as states below to claim your winnings prize to:

GLOBAL SECURITY AND FREIGHT SERVICES.
Suit 19, Millbrook Business Park
Manchester, M23 9YJ LONDON
UNITED KINGDOM
TEL: +447017600689
Direct Email: gsfs@live.co.uk

To file for claim, you are required to fill out the information required in the verification form and establish contact via e-mail immediately, with GLOBAL SECURITY AND FREIGHT SERVICES

PAYMENT VERIFICATION FORM:

FULL NAMES:
FULL ADDRESS:
MARITAL STATUS:
STATE:
AGE:
SEX:
WINNING EMAIL ID & MOBILE NUMBERS:
PERSONAL EMAIL:
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:
COMPANY:
NATIONALITY:
SCANNED COPY OF IDENTITY PROOF (MANDATORY)
SCANNED COPY OF ADDRESS PROOF (MANDATORY)

We advise you to maintain strict confidentiality
of your WINNING NOTIFICATION and the ENTIRE CLAIMS PROCESS
until the verification process has been completed and your
cash remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol
to AVOID DOUBLE CLAIMS WHICH COULD LEAD TO CANCELLATION OF
FUNDS REMITTANCE/CLAIMS PROCEDURES.
Confirm your winning through the Cash officer assigned to
winners on Email sweepstakes Manager below:
Name: DR. JACOB MILLER (AWARD CLAIMS MANAGER)
Further Clarifications Contact: Tel: +44 701 4235117
thank you and accept my hearty congratulations once again!!!

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam