419 scam: Microsoft Award Team <ainafets@fastwebnet.it> Microsoft Award Team 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:

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 agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "claims009155@admin.in.th" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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!

Fraud email example:

From: Microsoft Award Team <ainafets@fastwebnet.it>
Reply-To: claims009155@admin.in.th
Date: Sun, 12 Sep 2010 04:20:09 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Microsoft Award Team Lottery

Microsoft Award Team
Cumberland Avenue,
London NW10 7QL,
United Kingdom.
Batch number: 12/25/0340
Ref number: MSN-L/200-26937
Winning number: SH09788

Dear,Winner,

This is to announce to you, that you just won the sum of 500,000.00 GBP (five h
undred thousand pounds sterling). In the MSN AWARD
TEAM PROMO. The Microsoft word is offering a free donation to hotmail and msn
subscriber,including other web-based email ID and domains. So if you receive thi
s letter of notification you are also a winner and you are required to particip
ate. Our online ballot box machine selected your email ID automatically, with t
he following information affiliated to your email ID.
Your Identification numbers are given below.

You are advice to contact the MSN AWARD TEAM claims agent with immediate effec
t to facilitate the release of your winning prize.
When contacting your claims agent, you are to furnish him with your reference
and batch number along with the required information below:

Name Of Winner:__________________
Sex________________________
Nationality: ________________
Age:______________________________
Occupation:_____________
Marital Status: ____________
Tel No: _____________ Fax No: _______
Postal Address:
Country: _____________________
Winning E-mail Address:_____________

Claims agent contact details:
Mr.James Mark (MSW officer)
Email:claims009155@admin.in.th

Please contact him as soon as you receive this notification emailâ€¦Once again c
ongratulations.

Best regards,
Mr.Eddy lewis.
Executive Secretary/Co-ordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam