419 scam: MICROSOFT WORD MANAGEMENT <info@microsoft.co.uk> *Congratulations/Felicidades* MSW Winner 2012

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- ",500,000" (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!

Fraud email example:

From: MICROSOFT WORD MANAGEMENT <info@microsoft.co.uk>
Reply-To: msw.claims@xnmsn.com
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:04:28 +0100
Subject: *Congratulations/Felicidades* MSW Winner 2012

FROM THE DESK OF THE E-MAIL PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
MICROSOFT WORD LOTTERY, UK
REF NO: MSW-L/200-26937
BATCH: 2012MJL-01

ELECTRONIC MAIL AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION

Dear Esteemed Winner,
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Microsoft Word
International Promotions Program held this year, 2012. Your e-mail
address attached to Winning number 20-12DEC-2011-02MSW, serial number
S/N-00168, drew the lucky numbers 887-13-865-37-10-83 which
consequently won in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved
for a lump sum pay out of 500,000.00 GBP. This is from total prize
money of GBP 2,500,000.00 POUNDS shared among the five international
winners in this category. To claim your prize kindly submit the
completed form to your verification unit by email:
VERIFICATION FORM BELOW:
*Name of Winner:
*Address:
*City/State:
*Nationality:
*Sex:
*Email Address:
*Phone no:
*Occupation:
*Age:
*Amount won:.
The claims officer contact email is:

Name: Mr. Brad Turpin
E-mail: mswclaims@xnmsn.com

Sincerely,
Mrs. Lisa Candish
For MS WORD LOTTO UK.
================================================================================

DESDE EL DESPACHO DEL DIRECTOR DE E-MAIL PROMOCIONES,
PROMOCIONES INTERNACIONALES / DEPARTAMENTO DE PREMIOS PREMIO
LA LOTERÍA DE MICROSOFT WORD, Reino Unido
Ref. No: MSW-L/200-26937
LOTES: 2012MJL-01

PREMIO GANADOR DE NOTIFICACIÓN DE CORREO ELECTRÓNICO

Estimados Señores ganador,
Nos complace informarle de los resultados de Microsoft Word Programa
Internacional de Promociones a cabo este año, 2012. Su dirección de
correo electrónico adjunta a número ganador 20-12DEC-2011-02MSW,
número de serie S/N-00168, señaló a los números de la suerte
887-13-865-37-10-83 que por lo tanto ganó en la categoría primera, que
ha por lo tanto, ha aprobado por una suma global pagar de 500.000,00
EUR. Esto es de premio total de EUR 2.500.000,00 libras compartida
entre los cinco ganadores internacionales en esta categoría. Para
reclamar su premio amablemente enviar el formulario completo a la
unidad de verificación por correo electrónico:
VERIFICACIÓN DE FORMULARIO:
*Nombre del Ganador:
*Dirección:
*Ciudad / Estado:
*Nacionalidad:
*Sexo:
*Dirección de correo electrónico:
*Teléfono:
*Ocupación:
*Edad:
*Importe obtenido:.
El oficial de reclamaciones de correo electrónico de contacto es:

Nombre: Sr. Brad Turpin
E-mail: mswclaims@xnmsn.com

Atentamente,
Sra. Lisa Candish
Para MS WORD LOTTO Reino Unido.

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