419 scam: "MICROSOFT AOL CORPORATION" <jp@microsoft.com> MICROSOFT LOTTERY PROMOTION ANNOUNCEMENT...

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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:
- ",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)
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.
- +447035966696 (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.
- mchgoldfine@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MICROSOFT AOL CORPORATION" <jp@microsoft.com>
Reply-To: goldfine.michael@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:04:00 -0200
Subject: MICROSOFT LOTTERY PROMOTION ANNOUNCEMENT...

Dear Sir/ Madam,

The prestigious Microsoft and AOL has set out and successfully organized a
sweepstakes marking the year 2009 anniversary we rolled out over $400,419,864
USD. for our end of year Anniversary Draws. Participants for the draws were
randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of web hosts which we enjoy
their patronage.

The selection was made through a computer draw system attaching personalized
email addresses to ticket numbers. Microsoft and AOL are now the largest
Internet companies and in an effort to make sure that Internet Explorer
remain the most widely used program, Microsoft and AOL are running an e-mail
beta test. Your email address as indicated was drawn and attached to
reference and ticket number 008795727498 with serial numbers MIC-AOL/8303/09
and drew the lucky numbers 04-18-35-38-53-46 (12) which subsequently won you
£ 1,000,000 ( One Million Pound Sterling) as one of the jackpot winner in
this draw. You have therefore won the entire winning sum of £ 1,000,000 (One
Million Pound Sterling) the draws registered as Draw number one(#1) was
conducted in Liverpool, United Kingdom, on the 21st September, 2009. These
Draws are commemorative and as such special. If you ignore this message, you
will definitely regret it in the nearest future.

Please be informed by this winning notification to file your claims
immediately. You are advised to contact your referred agent who shall by
duty guide you through the process to facilitate the release of your winning
prize. To file for this claims, Please Contact your referred agent with your
verification information as required on the form below, beginning the claims
of your winnings funds as conducted by the lottery company.

We dedicate our special thanks & gratitude to Bill Gates {Now Retired from
Microsoft Corporations} .We wish you the best of luck as you spend your good
fortune in this season.

Note: You have Two (2) weeks from the date of this publication to claim your
prize or you may forfeit your winnings. Thank you for being part of our
commemorative end of year Anniversary Draws.

Find below your referred agent and the verification form:

Address: 18 SOUTH DRIVE, HEPWORTH,DISS,NORFOLK, IP22 2HF, UK.
Contact Agent: Mr. Micheal Goldfine
Tel # : +44 703 596 6696
Email: mchgoldfine@aol.com

Name: ..................................
Country of Origin.......................
Place of Residence......................
Occupation..............................
Sex/Age.................................
Telephone/Fax...........................
Winning Email ID........................

NOTE: WE HAVE DECIDED TO EFFECT TRANSFER TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT ONLY AND WHEN
CONTACTING YOUR REFERRED AGENT, DO QUOTE YOUR TICKET NUMBER AND SERIAL NUMBER
FOR SECURITY REASONS.

Lawrence McDonald
Public Relations Officer
©2009 Microsoft Corporation

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate_t#

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam