419 scam: "MICROSOFT PROMOTION"<williams-paul10@virgilio.it> Dear Email/Internet User

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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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +447035925012 (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.
- pawilliamsa2@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MICROSOFT PROMOTION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pawilliamsa22@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 28 May 2012 04:07:37 -0700
Subject: Dear Email/Internet User

Dear Email/Internet User,

Your email address has just been chosen on the Microsoft Promotions, Your email just won £,1,750.000.00 Pounds. Contact Mr. Paul Williams for claims, His email address is :pawilliamsa2@yahoo.co.jp and his Telephone No is : +447035925012.

Send him your name, home address, telephone no, winning email, age, occupation, gender and country. Congratulations from the Microsoft Cooperation.

Your reply should be forwarded to Mr. PAUL on this email: pawilliamsa2@yahoo.co.jp

Note: All Winnings Are Meant To Be Confidential on until After Claims To Avoid Double Claiming. On Behalf On The Microsoft Lottery Board We Say Congratulation And Thanks For Your Loyalty.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam