419 scam: "MICROSOFT WINNING"<w.i.n.n.i.n.g@hotmail.co.uk> 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:

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:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "hundred thousand great british pounds" (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.
- +4408719740575

Fraud email example:

From: "MICROSOFT WINNING" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <claims@microsoft-rewards.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Jul 2011 16:19:09 +0530
Subject: NOTIFICATION

Microsoft Award Promotion Department
Regent's Park London, Nw1 4SA London, United Kingdom
Ref No: BTD/968/05
Batch No: 409978E

Dear Lucky Winner,

OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION!!!

The Microsoft Award Promotion Department, congratulates you as one of our Three (3) Star Prize Winners in our 2011 International Awareness Promotion (IAP) held in London,your Email address won a cash prize of £500,000.00 (five hundred thousand Great British Pounds) and also a brand new HP Laptop.

NOTE: Be informed by this winning notification, to file your claims, you are to contact your designated agent who shall by duty guide you through the process to facilitate the release of your prize. To file for your claim, Please Contact your fiduciary agent.

Contact your fiduciary agent with the name and email given below:

Mr.Jonathan Clegg
Head of Claims Department
Microsoft Award Promo, 2011
Email: claims@microsoft-rewards.com
Tel: +44 (0) 8719740575
========================================
You are advised to contact your fiduciary agent with the following information:
**Full Names
**Country
**State
**Residential Address
**Occupation
**Age
**Mobile number
**Phone
**Gender
**Marital Status
==============================
I Declare as the promo prize winner that all information I have provided for my winning claims are true and correct information of myself. I agree with the Microsoft Award Promo Department policy and regulation in line with my promo prize claim.
CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN.

Sincerely,
M.Donovan Smith
(Lottery Coordinator)
Microsoft Award Promotion Team.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam