419 scam: "BRIAN HUNT"<keith700ha@hotmail.co.uk> 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:

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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "microsoft lottery" (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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!
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.
- +447407093708
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.
- keith700hamilton@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "BRIAN HUNT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <keith700hamilton@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 5 May 2011 13:11:46 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

MICROSOFT LOTTERY
P O BOX 1010 LIVERPOOL, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM

WINNING NOTIFICATION

Attn: WINNER

We happily announce to you the draw (#771) of the MICROSOFT LOTTERY, online Sweepstakes International program held on 16th April 2011.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:
68775600545144 with Serial number 4677/11 drew the lucky numbers: 08-22-24-33-44-48 (bonus No. 2)
which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e. match 5 plus bonus.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £550,000.00 (Five hundred and Fifty thousand
pounds Sterling) in cash credited to file EST/9023118308/11.This is from a total cash prize of
£22,000,000.00 shared amongst the lucky winners in this category i.e. Match 5 plus bonus.

All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer
draw system and extracted from over 100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online.
This promotion takes place weekly until the end of the year. (31/12/2011) Please note that your lucky winning
number falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon.
(56475600545188) In view of this, your £550,000.00 (Five hundred and Fifty thousand pounds Sterling)
would be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe.

Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as
you contact them.For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till
your claim is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.
Please, you are advised to contact the agent with your winning numbers, this is part of our precautionary
measures to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned.
To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent, with your NAMES, EMAIL ADDS AND
TEL NUMBER TO: KEITH HAMILTON (keith700hamilton@hotmail.co.uk) Tel:+44 740 709 3708

Warning!!!: Fraudulent emails are circulating that appear to be using Microsoft Lottery addresses, but are
not from The Microsoft Lottery .PLEASE REPORT IMMEDIATELY TO: CUSTOMER CARE/COMPLAINTS DEPT:

Mr. Brian Hunt
Online coordinator

Copyright © 1994-2006 The Microsoft International Lottery Inc.
All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guideline

77635 476378 255667460

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam