419 scam: "MICROSOFT NETWORK CORPORATION" <info@info.com> (no subject)

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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:
- "here in london united kingdom" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states dollars" (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.
- +447031868638 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "MICROSOFT NETWORK CORPORATION" <info@info.com>
Reply-To: larry-marshall@live.com
Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 21:21:27 +0100 (CET)
Subject:

MICROSOFT®
(UK. Regional Office)
Microsoft Building, Wright Lane,
Kensington London W85sp.

Winner No. 005,

It is obvious that this notification will come to you as a surprise but
please find time to read it carefully as we congratulate you over your
success in the following official publication of results of the E-mail
electronic online Sweepstakes organized by Microsoft Coporation ,in
conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of software
products,(F.P.S.) held here in London United kingdom, A Draft of
$1,000.000.00 (One Million United States Dollars) will be issued in your
name.

It is important to note that your award was released with the following
particulars attached to it.
(1) File Number: F1267-2009
(2) Ref. Code :KP23/857/MCL5 /CO
(3) Grant Number: MICC/97846563459/206

To begin the claim of your prize, you are required to fill and send the
verification form below to our Claims processing Officer with the
information below.

CLAIM PROCESSING OFFICER: Larry Marshall
EMAIL: larry_marshall@live.com
TEL/FAX:+44 703 186 8638

Send your information Below to his contact email above to process your
claim and inform you when to receive your prize.

1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. YOUR COMPLETE ADDRESS
3. YOUR COMPANY NAME
4. YOUR POSITION
5. YOUR MOBILE NUMBER
6. YOUR FAX NUMBER
7. YOUR DATE OF BIRTH
8. YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.

Congratulations once more, and we wish you the best.

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs. Lisa Wayne,
Director of Promotions.
MICROSOFT NETWORK CORPORATION

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam