419 scam: "Microsoft AOL Lottery Notification" <microsoft@microsoftaol.com> Microsoft E-mail Alert... (MIC-AOL/8303/09)

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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:
- ",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)
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.
- +447035966696 (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.
- mic.goldfinedesk@maktoob.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Microsoft AOL Lottery Notification" <microsoft@microsoftaol.com>
Reply-To: mic.goldfinedesk@maktoob.com
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:21:00 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: Microsoft E-mail Alert... (MIC-AOL/8303/09)

Dear Sir/ Madam,

The prestigious Microsoft and AOL has set out and successfully organized a
Sweepstakes marking the year 2009 anniversary we rolled out over
US$400,419,864 for our New year Anniversary Draws. Participants for the
draws were randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of web hosts
which we enjoy their patronage.

The selection was made through a computer draw system attaching
personalized email addresses to ticket numbers. If you ignore this
message, you will definitely regret it later. Microsoft and AOL are now
the largest Internet companies & in effort to make sure that Internet
Explorer remain the most widely used program, Microsoft and AOL are
running an e-mail beta test.

Your email address as indicated was drawn and attached to reference and
ticket number 008795727498 with serial numbers MIC-AOL/8303/09 and drew
the lucky numbers 04-18-35-38-53-46 (12) which subsequently won you Â£
1,000,000 ( One Million Great Britain Pounds) as one of the jackpot
winner in this draw. You have therefore won the entire winning sum of Â£
1,000,000 (One Million Great Britain Pounds) the draws registered as Draw
number one was conducted in Liverpool, UK on the 17th July, 2009. These
Draws are commemorative and as such special.

Please be informed by this winning notification to file your claims
immediately. You are advised to make contact to your referred agent who
shall by duty guide you through the process to facilitate the release of
your winning prize. To file for this claims, Please Contact your referred
agent with your verification information as required on the form below,
beginning the claims of your winnings funds as conducted by the lottery
company.

We dedicate our special thanks & gratitude to Bill Gates {Now Retired from
Microsoft Corporation} .We wish you the best of luck as you spend your
good fortune in this season.

Note: You have Two (2) weeks from the date of this publication to claim
your prize or you may forfeit your winnings. Thank you for being part of
our commemorative New year Anniversary Draws.

Find below your referred agent and the verification form:

Address: 18 SOUTH DRIVE, HEPWORTH,DISS,NORFOLK, IP22 2HF, UK.
Contact Agent: Mr. Micheal Goldfine
Tel # : +44 703 596 6696
Email: mic.goldfinedesk@maktoob.com

Name: ..................................
Country of Origin.......................
Place of Residence......................
Occupation..............................
Sex/Age.................................
Telephone/Fax...........................
Winning Email ID........................

NOTE: DUE TO FRAUDS WE HAVE DECIDED TO EFFECT TRANSFER TO YOUR BANK
ACCOUNT ONLY AND WHEN CONTACTING YOUR REFERRED AGENT, DO QUOTE YOUR TICKET
NUMBER AND SERIAL NUMBER FOR SECURITY REASONS.

Anabela Frazlo Ipleiria
Public Relations Officer
Â©2009 Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft E-mail Alert... (MIC-AOL/8303/09)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam