419 scam: "Msn/Yahoo Lottery" <msnwindreaws@live.com> congratulations

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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:

The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "yahoo/msn lottery inc" (no such lottery exists)
- "yahoo/msn lottery" (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "msnwindreaws@live.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.
- +447010040117 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Msn/Yahoo Lottery" <msnwindreaws@live.com> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 06:21:49 +0100 (BST)
Subject: congratulations

The Yahoo/Msn Lottery Incorporation
PO Box 1010,Liverpool
L70 1NL,United Kingdom.
====================================
Ref: XYL /26510460037/05
Batch: 24/00319/IPD

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Dear Lucky Winner,
This is to inform you that you have won a prize money of £500,000.00
(FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND GREAT BRITAIN POUND Sterling) for the
Annual 2010 Lottery promotion which is organized by YAHOO/MSN LOTTERY
(inc) LIVE, In conjunction with the MICROSOFT WINDOWS, YAHOO/MSN WINDOWS,
collects all the email addresses of the people that are active online,
among the millions that subscribed to Yahoo, Hotmail and various Microsoft
window users, we only select five people as our winners, through electronic
balloting System without the winner applying.
Yahoo/Msn Lottery Prize must be claimed not later than 14 days from
the date of this Notification after the Draw date in which Prize has
won. Any prize not claimed within this period will be forfeited.
These are your identification numbers:

Batch number.....................YM 09102XN
Reff number.......................YM35447XN
Winning number.................YM09788

Our Event Manager will immediately commence the process to facilitate
the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. For security
reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential
till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of
our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of
this program,

Please be warned.
Attached here is the claim verification and funds release form.
You are expected to fill and submit to the event manager.

(VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM)
1.FULL NAMES:_______________________
2.ADDRESS:____________
3.SEX:___________________________
4..AGE:________________________
5.MARITAL STATUS:_____________________
6.OCCUPATION:___________________________
7.E-MAIL ADDRESS:____________________
8.TELEPHONE NUMBER:______________________
9.AMOUNT WON:___________________
10.STATE:___________________
11.COUNTRY__________________________
12.NEXT OF KIN:_____________
13.ZIP CODE:_____________________________
14:NATIONALITY:___________________________
15:Your Reference and Batch number at the top of this mail:
To file for your claim, please fill and submit your verification form
to our events manager immediately via email.

Head Customer Care Service
Microsoft Promotion Team
(CONTACT EVENT MANAGER)
Dr. JOHN SMITH
E-mail: msnwindreaws@live.com
Telephone: +44 701 004 0117
Once again congratulations...
(Yahoo/Msn Lottery Promotion/Lottery Coordinator).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam