419 scam: "Microsoft Corporations"<coodinatorsoffice1@att.net> Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "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. )
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.
- +447031743763 (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.
- coodinatorsoffice125@yahoo.com.cn (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Microsoft Corporations" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <coodinatorsoffice125@yahoo.com.cn>
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:40:22 +0800
Subject: Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards

Microsoft Corporations Stamford New Road, Altrincham Cheshire, WA14 1EP London, United Kingdom. Dear Lucky Winner, The prestigious Microsoft and AOL has set out and successfully organised a Sweepstakes marking the new year anniversary for 2010, we rolled out over ? 450,000.00 GBP (Four Houndred And Fifty Thousand Great Britain Pounds) Draws. Participants for the draws were randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of web hosts which we enjoy their patronage. Your email address as indicated was drawn and attached to ticket number 0087955827499 with serial numbers MSC/0080648302/07 and drew the lucky numbers 14-21-25-39-40-47(20) which subsequently won you ? 450,000.00 GBP (Four Houndred And Fifty Thousand Great Britain Pounds ) as one of the jackpot winners in his draw. You have therefore won the entire winning sum of ?450,000.00GBP (Four Houndred And Fifty Thousand Great Britain Pounds). These are your identification numbers:MCS/0080648302/07 CATEGORY NO.OF WINNERS WINNING PRIZES 1st. 2 ? 450,000.00 pounds each 2nd. 8 ? 350.000.00 pounds each 3rd. 13 ? 250,000.00 pounds each 4th. 27 ? 170,000.00 pounds each CLAIMS REQUIREMENTS: 1. Full names: 2. Residential address: 3. Phone number: 4. Fax number: 5 . Occupation: 6. Sex: 7. Age: 8. Nationality: 9 . Present Country: 10. Next of kin name/address: 11.How do you feel as a winner: Mode Of Price Remittance. Courier Delivery Of your Certified Winning Cheque Name and other Winning Documents safely to you. CONTACT ************************************************************************************ FOREIGN TRANSFER MANAGER Paul Smith MICROSOFT SECURITY DEPARTMENT (UK). PHONE: +447031743763 E-mail: coodinatorsoffice125@yahoo.com.cn ************************************************************************************ The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by our 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! Yours Sincerely, M.S.PRO. ZONAL COORDINATOR

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam