419 scam: "Mrs Neil Craig"<mrsneilcraig@gmail.com> CONGRATULATIONS DEAR WINNER

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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.
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:
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- ",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 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.
- +447042072065 (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.
- michaelsteven44@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Neil Craig" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaelsteven44@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2017 20:57:40 +0800
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS DEAR WINNER

FROM:THE DESK OF THE E-MAIL PROMOTIONS
MANAGER,INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE
AWARD DEPARTMENT MSW MEGA LOTTERY,
UNITED KINGDOM. 61-70 Southampton Row,
Bloomsbury, London, United Kingdom, WC1B 4AR
REF NO: MSW-L/200-26937
BATCH: 2005MJL-01
ELECTRONIC MAIL AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION.AWARD PRESENTATION
CENTER: UNITED KINGDOM

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today of winners of the
MSW MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS held on Saturday 10th June 2017. Your
company or your personal e-mail address, is attached to winning number
20-12DEC-2005-02MSW,With serial number S/N-00168 drew the lucky
numbers 887-13-865-37-10-83, and consequently won in the first lottery
category.

You have therefore been approved for lump sums pay out of GBP1,800,000.00
POUNDS in cash Credited to file REF NO:MSW-L/200-26937 this is from total
prize money of GBP 9,000,000.00 POUNDS, shared among the Five(5) international
lucky winners in this category.

All participants E-mail addresses were selected through our Microsoft computer
ballot system drawn from 50,000 Individual Names, 30,000 companies names
from each continent, as part of International "E-MAIL" Promotions Program,Which
is conducted annually for our prominent MS WORD.

Your payment has been insured with your REF NO:MSW-L/200-26937. Your
E-mail address should be used in all correspondence with your claims
officer, Please note that, you are to contact your claims officer via email as we Are promoting
the use of E-mail, any communications with this office should be by mail,
you have the right to call the Claim Payment Officer to confirm your winning
and payment,as we will provide you with the necessary details on how to
claim Your prize. You are to keep your ref.number and batch number from
the public, until you have been processed and your prize money delivered
or transferred to you.

To claim your winning prize, you must contact the claims Officer by email
for Processing and remittance of your prize money to you.The claims officer
contact is:
Name: Michael Steven
Tel: +447042072065
E-mail: michaelsteven44@yahoo.co.uk
(PAYMENT CLAIM OFFICER)

Be informed that all prize money must be claimed not later than two weeks
of this Notification, All funds not Claimed on or before the fixed date
will be with-held accordingly. Do contact the Claim Officer immediately
for further guidelines.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember
to quote your reference and batch numbers in all correspondences with your
claims officer. Do contact the claims officer Michael Steven at once via
E-mail: michaelsteven44@yahoo.co.uk

Neil Craig
For MSW MEGA LOTTO PROMO UK;
Any winner below the age of 18years is automatically disqualified.
CONGRATULATIONS DEAR WINNER

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam