419 scam: =?UTF-8?Q?MICROSOFT=C2=AE_CORPORATIONS?= <cptwilliams01@gmail.com> MICROSOFT OFFICIAL PROMOTION

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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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "dr.steven_sandler@outlook.com" (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!
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.
- +447031929098 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: =?UTF-8?Q?MICROSOFT=C2=AE_CORPORATIONS?= <cptwilliams01@gmail.com>
Reply-To: owen.sagness2015@outlook.com
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2015 14:30:06 +0100
Subject: MICROSOFT OFFICIAL PROMOTION

MICROSOFTÂ® CORPORATIONS
Cardinal Place
80-100 Victoria Street
London,SW1E 5JL
United Kingdom

MICROSOFT OFFICIAL PROMOTION

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 results of the
E-mail electronic online Sweepstakes Balloting System 2014/2015
organized by Microsoft, in conjunction with the foundation for the
promotion of software products, (F.S.P) held this 2015,in the
Microsoft Head Quarters London United Kingdom, where your email
address emerged as one of the online Winning emails in the 2nd
category and therefore attracted a cash award of ?2,000,000.00 GBP
(Two Million Great British Pounds Sterling) Our winners are arranged
into four categories with different winning prizes accordingly in each
category. They are arranged in this format below:

CATEGORY OF MICROSOFT WINNERS;

1st. ?5,000,000.00 GBP
2nd. ?2,000,000.00 GBP
3rd. ?1,000,000.00 GBP
4th. ?450,000.00 GBP

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). Award Numbers: UK/149/2015
(2). Email Bonus Numbers: MSLP-1009021
(3). Batch Numbers: MSOFT/421/8PDH
(4). Reference Numbers: GB/54/132/921/MSOFT
(5). Serial Numbers: MSOFT/2015/NLP00292

Microsoft Verification Requirements

(1). Full Name:
(2). Address:
(3). Nationality/Gender:
(4). Age:
(5). Occupation:
(6). Phone:
(7). Country:
(8). How do you feel as a Microsoft Winner:
(9). Ever Won an Online Award or Bonus:
(10). Winning Email Address:

Please specify your mode of receiving your winnings.
(1) Courier Delivery of your winning cheque to your Home address.
(2) Bank transfer of your funds to your bank account in your country.

To file for your claim, Please contact your Microsoft GB Manager for
claim 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 as unclaimed
funds will be liquidated by the Microsoft Promotion Company. You are
required to mention the above particulars of your award in every
correspondence to enable the Manager validate your winnings.

NOTE:

(1). To fill the claims processing form if you are not used to pdf
files, you print it out and fill it or simply copy the entire
notification letter to either Microsoft Word or Notepad for easy
access.

(2). Do not tell people about your Price 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 by us,
Microsoft shall not be held responsible for any loss of fund arising
from the above mentioned.

Dr. Steven Sandler
General Manager, Online Division, UK
E-mail: dr.steven_sandler@outlook.com
Tel: +447031929098

The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by our
CEO/Chairman, Satya Nadella and a consortium of software promotion
companies like Intel Group,Acer,H P, Toshiba, Pisem, Aol, Dell
Computers and other International Companies.

As Satya Nadella becomes the third CEO of Microsoft, he brings a
relentless drive for innovation and a spirit of collaboration to his
new role. He joined Microsoft 23 years ago because he saw how clearly
Microsoft empowers people to do magical things and ultimately make the
world a better place. Many companies, he says, â€œaspire to change the
world. But very few have all the elements required: talent, resources
and perseverance. Microsoft has proven that it has all three in
abundance.â€

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 Staffs & Members of
Microsoft GB Board Commission Congratulations.

Sincerely,

Owen Sagness
General Manager of Advertising and On-line
Microsoft CorporationsÂ®

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam