419 scam: "MICROSOFT EMAIL PROMO:OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION" <larrybrown774@gmail.com> MICROSOFT EMAIL PROMO:OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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 office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
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 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.
- larrybrown7748@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MICROSOFT EMAIL PROMO:OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION" <larrybrown774@gmail.com>
Reply-To: larrybrown7748@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:10:06 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: MICROSOFT EMAIL PROMO:OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION

MICROSOFT EMAIL PROMO:OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION

After a successful completion of the draws of the MICROSOFT EMAIL
PROMO held on the 14th of August 2010,your company or your personal e-
mail address, attached to winning numbers:(23) (77) (04) (57) (33)
(170) won in the Tenth lottery category.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £150, 000, 00
(One Hundred and Fifty Thousand British Pounds Sterling) in cash
credited to file REFNO: MSW-L/007-28793, BATCH NO: 2007MJL-05, this is
from a total prize money of £3,750,000 (Three Million, Seven hundred
and Fifty Thousand British Pounds Sterling), shared among the Twenty five
(25) international winners in this category.

All participants were selected through our Microsoft computer ballot
system drawn form 142,000 Names, as part of our International \"E-
MAIL"\ Promotion Program for our prominent MS-WORD users all over the
world and for the continuous use of the internet.

We have six clearance offices zoned continentally, CANADA, BRAZIL, INDONESIA,
LONDON, GHANA and SPAIN, clearance zones are picked randomly by computer,

Each winning number falls within any of the clearance zones your prize
number falls

At GHANA region approved clearance office in ACCRA GHANA
you are therefore requested to contact the claims processor via the e-
mail address provided with the information required in the form below.

The claims processor is:

LARRY BROWN
Email: larrybrown7748@gmail.com

Phone; +233548285920

In order to avoid unnecessary delay and complications, please remember
to quote your reference and winning ticket number in all
correspondence
with your claims officer. Your secret pin code is ML0757985.

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU ARE TO SEND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO CLAIM
YOUR WINNINGS:

1.FullName....................................
2.Address:....................................
3.Phone:...............Fax:...................
4.Country:....................................
5.Sex...........................................

You are to keep all lottery information (your winning numbers and MOST
ESPECIALLY your secret pin code) away from the general public. This is
important as a case of double claims and unwarranted abuse of this
program will not be entertained and will be legally pursued.

Congratulations once again.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MRS. BETSY PECHMAN.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam