419 scam: Microsoft Corporation Remittance Desk <winners@microsoft.co.uk> **You Are A Certified Winner Of The Microsoft Mega Award Promotion**

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "microsoft mega jackpot lottery" (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "micros.claimsdepartment-inc@w.cn" (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.
- +447045733163 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Microsoft Corporation Remittance Desk <winners@microsoft.co.uk>
Reply-To: micros.claimsdepartment-inc@w.cn
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:57:18 +0000
Subject: **You Are A Certified Winner Of The Microsoft Mega Award Promotion**

MICROSOFT HOUSE PRESCOT, LONDON E1 8RP.
UNITED KINGDOM.

ELECTRONIC E-MAIL AWARD PROMOTION.
The Microsoft Mega Jackpot Lottery, United Kingdom wishes to inform you that the results of the New Year E-mail address ballot lottery international program held in Great Britain on the 8th of October 2010 is out. Your e-mail account have been picked as a certified winner of a lump sum pay out of £1,550,952.00.(One Million Five Hundred And Fifty Thousand Nine Hundred And Fifty Two Pounds Sterling) credited to MICRO (LOTTERY) CHIP NO:9465206. This is from a total prize money of £8,612,170 GBP
shared amongst the (5) international winners in this category "A" ballot lottery. You are therefore advice to contact our claims agent for validation:

THE BENEFICIARY/OWNER OF THE WINNING EMAIL SHOULD COMPLETE OUR CLAIMS FORM.

1. FULL NAMES OF BENEFICIARY:
2. RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:
3. DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH:
4. PHONE/FAX NUMBERS:
5. NAME AND ADDRESS OF NEXT OF KIN:
6. MICRO (LOTTERY) CHIP NUMBER:
7. OCCUPATION:
8. MARITAL STATUS:
9. SEX:
10.NATIONALITY:
11.AMOUNT WON:

You are to contact the Claims Consultant with the details below:
Contact Person: Mr. Hamilton Reeds.
Email : micros.claimsdepartment-inc@w.cn
Tel : +44-704-573-3163

Yours Sincerely,
Dr (Mrs) Elizabeth Andre
On-Line Coordinator, Microsoft Mega Jackpot Lottery.

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Anti-fraud resources:

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