419 scam: "Microsoft Windows=?ISO-8859-1?Q?=AE?=" <awards@microsoft.com> Official 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:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
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.
- +447035961922 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Microsoft Windows=?ISO-8859-1?Q?=AE?=" <awards@microsoft.com>
Reply-To: customercareunitdept@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 12:17:11 -0400
Subject: Official Notification

Microsoft Ltd, ®
Microsoft Campus,
Thames Valley Park,
Reading,
Berkshire,
RG6 1WG
UNITED KINGDOM
FILE REF: HL/5564/06/07/MICS
BATCH: MC11/834/5PDH /EU

OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION.

It is very obvious that this winning notification will come to you as a
surprise, but please find time and read it carefully as we on behalf of the
Microsoft Corporation congratulate you on your success in the official winning
online publication of the E-mail electronic online Sweepstakes organized by
Microsoft United Kingdom, in conjunction with the Foundation for the Promotion
of Software Products, (F.P.S.P) held On the 5th of June 2009 here in London UK.

Wherein your email address emerged as one of the online Winning emails in the
2nd category and therefore attracted a cash award of £350.000.00 (Three
Hundred and Fifty Thousand British pounds sterling).

The information's that are required from you are part of our precautionary
measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. To
claim your won prize, please contact our claims agent Sir Williams Sparks with
the verification form below:

Awards details
(1) These are your identification numbers: NL 56/7766
(2) Award numbers: MCS-26799/097
(3) Email ticket numbers: EAASL-130877
(4) Batch numbers: MC11/834/8PDH /EU
(5) The file reference numbers: HL/5574/41/07/MICS
{6} Serial Numbers: McST/006/NL46560

For verification purpose be sure to include your:

(1) Your contact address.
(2) Your Tel/Fax numbers.
(3) Your Nationality/Country.
(4) Your Full Names.
(5) Sex.
(6) Occupation.

To file for your claim, please contact our claims agent Sir Williams Sparks
for VALIDATION 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 and invalid. You are required to
mention the above particulars of your award in every correspondence to enable
the Agent validate your winning.

CONTACT:
*******************************************************************
The Promotional Claims Manager.
Mr. WILLIAMS SPARKS
Phone Number: +4470359 61922
E-mail: customercareunitdept@live.co.uk
Microsoft Corporation Award Team
************************************************************

Our agent Sir Williams Sparks will immediately commence the process to
facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him on the email
or on the telephone stated above.You may wish to establish contact with him
via e-mail with the particulars presented above citing the awards details as
stated to you earlier on.

The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by our past
CEO/Chairman, Bill Gates and a consortium of software promotion companies. The
Intel Group, Toshiba, Dell Computers and other International Companies. 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 all our staff,
CONGRATULATIONS!

Sincerely,
Mrs.Kate Henshaw
Microsoft Promotion Zonal Co-ordinator.

2001-2009 Microsoft Windows®.
77735 876378

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam