419 scam: Microsoft / Google Promotion Department <privateofficefile2@att.net> 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:

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:
- "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)
- "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. )
- "googlemicrosoft@ymail.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.
- +447045724275 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Microsoft / Google Promotion Department <privateofficefile2@att.net>
Reply-To: microsoftdepartmentp@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 23:48:51 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Microsoft / Google Promotion Department
PROMOTION OF E-MAIL'S DEPT.
3b Olympic Way, Sefton Business Park,
Aintree, Liverpool , L30 1R.

Attention: Lucky Winner,

We congratulate you, being one of the lucky winners of the result of the Annual Microsoft / Google Email Award held on the 1st of September 2010 in London UK . Your email address emerged as one of the 10 lucky winners selected electronically by our Electronic lotto Wheel. The total sum of GBP 2,0000.00 (Two Million Pounds) has been accredited to your email address file number.

Winners were selected randomly from our list of millions of email addresses around Europe, Asia, USA and some parts of South America to promote computer literacy worldwide as well as to advertise our software and computer products. This promotion was
sponsored by a conglomerate of software and computer promotion companies like Intel Group, Toshiba, Dell Computers Apple, and other International software and computers manufacturing Companies.

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

For verification purpose be sure to include:
(1) Your contact address.
(2) Your Tel/Fax numbers.
(3) Your Nationality/Country.
{4} Your Full Names.
(5) Occupation.
(6) Your Preffered Method Of Receiving Your Price
(From Below)

Mode Of Price Remittance.

(1) Cash Pick-Up (You coming Down to Uk Personally to Pick Your Price).
(2) Courier Delivery Of your Certified Winning Cheque Name and other Winning Documents safely to you.

To file for your claim, Please contact your Validating Officer 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:
*******************************************************************
FOREIGN TRANSFER MANAGER
DR.JERRY SAMSON
MICROSOFT SECURITY DEPARTMENT (UK).
Phone:+447045724275
E-mail:googlemicrosoft@ymail.com
********************************************************************
The Microsoft Google 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 Google 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,

DR.HAMED ALAN
M.S.PRO. ZONAL COORDINATOR.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam