419 scam: "=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Microsoft_Live=AE?=" <info@microsoft.org> Your Serial Number:5368/02

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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")
- "million 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)
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: "=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Microsoft_Live=AE?=" <info@microsoft.org>
Reply-To: consumersdesk_1@w.cn
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2010 22:17:21 +0700
Subject: Your Serial Number:5368/02

Microsoft® Consumer Awards
Building 3 Microsoft Campus
Thames Valley Park
Reading, Berkshire RG6 1WG
United Kingdom.

Your e-mail address was attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188
with Serial number 5368/02 Draw numbers: 05,10,13,14,28,42,48
which subsequently won one of the two Jackpot prizes.
You are therefore been accredited of the sum of 1, 000.000.00(One Million
Pounds)

To file for the claim, please contact our fiduciary Agent:

Mr.Craig Watson

Email:consumersdesk_1@w.cn

Provide him with the information below:

1.Name:
2.Address:
3.Marital Status:
4.Occupation:
5.Age:
6.Sex:
7.Nationality:
8.Country Of Residence:
9.Telephone Number:
10.Fax Number:
11.Draw Number above:

Good luck from me and members of staff of the Microsoft Consumers Award.

Yours faithfully,
Mr Mitchelle Amber
Online Co-ordinator for Microsoft Consumers Award
Sweepstakes International Program

--
This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam