419 scam: "MICROSOFT ONLINE LOTTERY"<info@msc.co.uk> Winning/Ticket number........NK7866

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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:
- "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)
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!

Fraud email example:

From: "MICROSOFT ONLINE LOTTERY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <terrymartin109@xnmsn.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 01:44:15 -0400
Subject: Winning/Ticket number........NK7866

MICROSOFT LOTTO GROUP
16, TOLPITS LANE, WATFORD,
HERTS WD18 9RN UNITED KINGDOM
Reference #: MSC/81A/01/2011
Batch: 12/25/0340
Winning/Ticket number........NK7866

Dear Esteemed Winner,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Microsoft Online Promotion 2011. Your e-mail address attached to Reference number: MSC/81A/01/2011, Batch: 12/25/0340 and Ticket number: NK7866, has consequently won in the 1st category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of £500,000.00 GBP (Five Hundred Thousand Pounds). Please note that this Promotional Program tagged "THANKS FOR CONTRIBUTING TO OUR FINANCIAL SUCCESS" was sponsored and organized by the Microsoft corporation in view of showing our appreciation to our numerous users world wide.

To begin your claim, please contact our approved agent with the information below. Also state your are in receipt of this notification and yourequire further instructions on how to claim your won prize.

Contact Name: Mr. Terry Martins

Email: terrymartin109@xnmsn.com

1.) FULL NAME:
2.) ADDRESS:
3.) PHONE NUMBER:
4.) COUNTRY:
5.) AGE/SEX:
6.) OCCUPATION/POSITION:
7.) MARITAL STATUS:

Note, please remember to quote your Reference number in all correspondence. All response should be forward to this Email:terrymartin109@xnmsn.com

Yours Truly,
Online Co-ordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam