419 scam: AUSTRALIA LOTTERY PROGRAMME <aus_lotery05@alestra.net.mx> MICROSOFT AUSTRALIAN ONLINE LOTTERY.

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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 lottery" (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "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)
- ",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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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!
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +2348035417399 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- barrister_wrightwilliaims@safe-mail.net (Safe-mail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: AUSTRALIA LOTTERY PROGRAMME <aus_lotery05@alestra.net.mx>
Date: Sat, 15 May 2010 02:25:03 -0400
Subject: MICROSOFT AUSTRALIAN ONLINE LOTTERY.

MICROSOFT AUSTRALIAN ONLINE LOTTERY.
The Microsoft Lottery
P O Box 1010
Sydney , Australia
(Customer Services)
OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION.

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, in conjunction
with the foundation for the promotion of software products, (F.P.S.)
held on 12th May 2010,in Australia.

Where in your email address emerged as one of the online Winning emails
in the 2nd category and therefore attracted a cash award of
?$1,000.000.00usd (One Million United States Dollars) Our winners are
arranged into four categories with different winning prizes accordingly
in each category.

They are arranged in this format below:
CATEGORY NO.OF WINNERS WINNING PRIZES:
1st. 2 ?$500,000.00 usd each
2nd. 8 ?$1,000,000.00 usd each
3rd. 13 ?$750,000.00 usd each
4th. 27 ?$970,000.00 usd each

We write to officially notify you of this award and to advise you to
contact the processing office immediately upon receipt of this message
for more information concerning the verification, processing and
eventual payment of the above prize to you. It is important to note
that your award information was released with the following particulars
attached to it.

(1) lucky numbers:7-18-87-45-69-63
(2) ticket numbers: G276017-487
(3) Batch: 25060788143-BTA/09
(4) Ref. Number: MICROAA4/214-0
{5} Serial Numbers: 49-3-678
(6) Bonus Ball Number:21

For verification purpose be sure to include: (1) Your contact
address........................
(2) Your Tel/Fax numbers......................
(3) Your Nationality/Country.................
{4} Your Full Names...............................
(5) Occupation/Age................................

To file for your claim, Please contact your Validating Officer for
VALIDATION of your winning within Twenty-nine working days of this
winning notification.

Winnings that are not validated within Twenty-nine working days of
winning notification are termed void and invalid. You are required to
mention the above particulars of your award in every correspondence to
enable the Agent validate
your winning.
CONTACT:
*******************************************************************
West African Fiduciary Agent for MICROSOFT AUSTRALIAN PROMOTIONS.
BARRISTER WRIGHT WILLIAIMS
OFFICE EMAIL
Email:barrister_wrightwilliaims@Safe-mail.net
CELL NUMBER: +2348035417399

*******************************************************************
The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by our
CEO/Chairman,Bill Gates and a consortium of software promotion
companies. The Intel Group,Toshiba, Dell Computers and other
International Companies. The Microsoft internet E-mail draw is held
periodically and is organized to encourage the use of the Internet and
promote computer literacy worldwide.

Once again on behalf of all our staff,
CONGRATULATIONS!
Sincerely,
MRS. CAROL SMITH. M.S.PRO.ZONAL COORDINATOR
Do not reply this email contact our claims agent via email address
BARRISTER WRIGHT WILLIAIMS
OFFICE EMAIL
Email:barrister_wrightwilliaims@Safe-mail.net
CELL NUMBER: +2348035417399

NOTE: Do not tell people about your Prize Award until your money is
successfully handed over to you to avoid disqualification that may
arise from double claim. You may also receive similar e-mails from
people portraying to be other Organizations or Microsoft Corporation.
This is solely to collect your personal information from you and lay
claim over your notification letter that was sent to you, Kindly
forward a copy to us and delete it from your mail box and give no
further correspondence to such person or body. Microsoft shall not be
held responsible for any loss of fund arising from the above mentioned

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam