419 scam: "MICROSFT LOTTERY" <micro_notificationlottery@msn.com> MICROSOFT LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATIONinePŒë¸"

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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:

The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "microsoft mega jackpot lottery" (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "cashiers check" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
- +447023080612 (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.
- info_microsoftlottery@yahoo.co.uk (Yahoo, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MICROSFT LOTTERY" <micro_notificationlottery@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 09:51:48 -0800
Subject: MICROSOFT LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATION

MANAGER, INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE
AWARD DEPARTMENT MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT
LOTTERY, UNITED KINGDOM.
89 New Fetter Lane London, EC4A 1AG U.K

REF NO: MSW/56B-672GH/L
BATCH: 4583JL/WIN

MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERY PROMOTIONS, EMAIL AWARD PROMO: UNITED KINGDOM

Finally today, we announce the winners of the MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS Today,Your company or your personal e-mail address, attached to winning number 23-76-06-54-42-100, with serial number 647489, consequently won in the Tenth lottery category.

You are therefore been approved for lump sums pay out of GBP 5,500,000.00 POUNDS ($10,464,000 USD) in cash Credited to file REF NO: MSW/56B-672GH/L and winning number 23-76-06-54-42-100, this is from total prize money
of GBP 27,500,000.00 POUNDS, shared among the Twenty five (25)international winners in this category.

All participants were selected through our Microsoft computer ballot system drawn form 42,000 Names, 6,000 names from each continent, as part of International "E-MAIL" Promotions Program, for our prominent MS WORD
user all over the world, and for the Continues use of E-mail. Your fund (certified Cashiers check) has been insured with your REF NO: MSW/56B-672GH/L and winning number 23-76-06-54-42-100. To claim your
winning prize, you must first contact the claims department by email for Processing and remittance of your prize money to you. The claims processor is:

Name: Colen Mark
PHONE: +44 7023080612
E-mail:info_microsoftlottery@yahoo.co.uk

Do email the above email addresses, all at once. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and winning numbers in all correspondences with your claims officer.

Claims Requirements:

FullName:..............................................................
2.Address:...............................................................
3.Nationality:...........................................................
4.Age:.........................Date of
Birth:.............................
5Occupation:.............................................................
6.Phone:...............
Fax:....................
7.State ofOrigin:......................Country:.........................

A: BANK SWIFT WIRE TRANSFER

B: INTER- BANK TRANSFER

C: BANK DIPLOMATIC TRANSFER

(2): COME TO OUR OFFSHORE PAYMENT CENTER IN UK WHERE YOU WILL BE PAID FULL IN CASH.

(3): BY OUR COURIER FIRM, WHERE THEY WILL COURIER YOUR WINNING CHEQUE TO YOU OR ANY ADDRESS YOU WISH TO HAVE YOUR CHEQUE COURIERED TO DIRECTLY TO
YOUR LOCAL BANK OR YOUR HOUSE. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO ALSO CHOOSE ONE OF THIS.

Sincerely,
Secretary
Mrs. Maurrine Diane H.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam