419 scam: Dr Mrs Catherine M Bitton <cartheriinebitton@live.com> CONGRATULATION

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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:
- ",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)
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.
- +447031847955 (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.
- paymentoffice_microsoft@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Dr Mrs Catherine M Bitton <cartheriinebitton@live.com>
Reply-To: paymentoffice_microsoft@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 18:19:39 -0400
Subject: CONGRATULATION

CONGRATULATION YOU HAVE WON A PRIZE FROM MICROSOFT COMPANY

MICROSOFT ANNUAL AWARD 2010

MSN WINNERS PROCESSING FORM.JPG (3662KB)
WINNING NOTIFICATION DEPT
MSN-MICROSOFT AWARD LOTTERY PROGRAM

United Kingdom, 61-70
Southampton Row
Bloomsbury London
United Kingdom WC 1B 4AR.
22rd SEP 2010
Ref: GC-25570180
Batch: 9232/MSN/UK
WINNER NO 6
Reply via paymentoffice_microsoft@yahoo.com

We the MSN MICROSOFT MANAGEMENT WORLDWIDE are pleased to inform you
today being
the 22rd SEP 2010 of winners of our annual MSN/MICROSOFT PROMOTION AWARD
PROGRAM conducted in UNITED KINGDOM on the 18th of Sep 2010. Your
E-mail address
is attached to WINNER NO 6, with serial number: 54088160 and drew the lucky
numbers:6-9-11-33-36-49-29, Batch No: 9232RT/MSN/UK which consequently won in
the 3rd lottery category. You have therefore been approved for a cash
prize of
GB850,000.00 Great British Pounds (GBP)(EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND
POUNDS)in cash, Credited to file REF NO: GC.25570180 This is from the total
prize money of $17,000,000.00 Pounds which is to be shared among the 20 LUCKY
international winners in categories C .All participants in this program were
selected randomly through our MSN/MICROSOFT Computer Ballot System,
drawn from
85.000.000 internet users from all search engines.Your e-mail address
was picked
by the automated MSN/MICROSOFT Computer Ballot System,which has been
programmed
for this random selection.This has eventually qualified you for the Winning.
This promotional program takes place annually, and is promoted and
sponsored by
MSN/MICROSOFT Companies, with the support of British/European corporate
companies and organizations to encourage the use of Internet and computers
worldwide.In view of this, your prize GB850,000.00 Great British Pounds would
be released to you by Our Prize Payment Officer (Dr Mrs Catherine M
Bitton).she
will immediately commence the process, to facilitate the release of your lucky
won prize as soon as you contact her for the claim of your lucky
prize.You are
to keep your ref. numbers and batch numbers from the public, until you have
received your cash prize. This is part of our security protocol to
avoid double
claiming and the act of scamming /hacking people of their ref number and
prizes.You are advised to contact our Prize Processing Officer by
means of email
or phone to the below contact info within the hour of reading this winning
notification and call the below number to confirm your winning.

Dr Mrs Catherine M Bitton
Office of the Prize Payment Authority
Prize Processing Officer
MSN-Award Lottery Promotion.
Email:paymentoffice_microsoft@yahoo.com
Tel: +447031847955 (Call to Verify your Winning)

Contact with the following details for the issue of your WINNING
CERTIFICATE/PAYMENT
(1)Full Name
(2)Present Country
(3)Date of Birth (DATE: MONTHS: YEAR:)
(4) Occupation
(5) Home/Mobile Phone
(6) Reference and Batch Numbers
(7) Nationality

Note that all prize money must be claimed not later than one month of
notification.All funds not claimed on or before the fixed date will be
returned
as Unclaimed
Prize please be aware that our Paying Authority will Effect Payment
Swiftly upon
satisfactory Report, Verifications and validation provided by our
prize processing
officer.NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all correspondences with
our payment
officer.Congratulations, once more from the entire Management and Staff of
MSN/MICROSOFT COMPANY to all our lucky winners of this year.

Robert Montgomery
Chairman of board of directors

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam