419 scam: "Microsoft Award Team"<info@winners.com> Winning No:Msoft/627/486/2011

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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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
- +447017475206 (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.
- microsoftawardteam37@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Microsoft Award Team" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <microclaims02@gmx.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 23:08:33 +0800
Subject: Winning No:Msoft/627/486/2011

Microsoft Award Team
Promotion/Claims Department
Po Box 1030 London Wc2r 0qs
England,United Kindom
(Customer Services)

Attn:Winner
AMOUNT WON:500,000.00GBP (Five Hundred Thousand Great
Britain Pounds).
This email has brought you an unexpected luck,Your e-mail
address was selected and confirmed by Windows Live & Microsoft
Windows, through their latest internet software. You are therefore
been approved the sum of 500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand
Great Britain Pounds).WINDOWS LIVE & MICROSOFT WINDOWS,
collects all the email addresses of people that are active online,
among the millions that subscribed to HOTMAIL,YAHOO,GMAIL,MSN
AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL DOMAIN we only randomly select ten
lucky people every year as our winners through electronic
balloting System without the winners applying or buying a ticket
online,we congratulate you for being one of the people selected.

PAYMENT OF PRIZE AND CLAIM
You are advised to contact the processing office immediately upon
receipt of this message for more information concerning the
processing and eventual payment of the above prize to you with
the following details to avoid unnecessary delay and
complications,These are your identification
numbers:
Winning No:Msoft/627/486/2011
Email Ref No:Msoft/956/33/2011

To begin your claim please contact our licensed and accredited
agent assigned to you.
(VERIFICATION DEPARTMENT MANAGER)
CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR
Email:microsoftawardteam37@yahoo.com.hk
Name: Mr Blanco Rodriguez
Phone Number: +447017475206

Do email the above Claims Administrator, at once with all the
claims requirements below.To avoid
unnecessary delay.They are needed to proceed.
Claims Requirements:
1. Full Name:_____________________
2. Address:_____________________
3. Nationality:___________Sex:________
4. Age:________Date of Birth:___________
5. Occupation:_________Martial Status_________
6. Cell Phone:___________Fax:___________
7. State of Origin:_________Country:_______

PROCEEDURES / RIGHTS AND PRECAUTIONS.
Choose from payment options and Contact the Claims
Administrator with all your claims requirements.
(i).Bank Transfer.
(ii).Delivery of 500,000.00 GBP by a registered Courier Company.

Congratulations!! once again.

Sincerely,
Mrs.Carolina lennon(Secretary)
Microsoft Corporation.All rights reserved

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam