419 scam: Microsoft Corporation <ariveron@icyt.df.gob.mx> =?iso-8859-1?b?ozEsMDAwLjAwMC4wMA==?=

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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:
- ",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)
- "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. )
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.
- +447045713554 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Microsoft Corporation <ariveron@icyt.df.gob.mx>
Reply-To: ssfc-001@msn.com
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:42:15 -0600
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?b?ozEsMDAwLjAwMC4wMA==?=

--
Microsoft Corporation
Building 3 Microsoft Campus
Thames Valley Park Reading,
Berkshire RG6 1WG
United Kingdom.

Data File Number: F1267-2012
Winning No: MSP/877/798/2012
Email Ref No:699/33/2012

Dear Winner,
You have been awarded the sum of One Million Great British Pounds
(£1,000.000.00), by the Microsoft Awards in conjunction with Microsoft
Windows Promotion. Your winning is drawn from a computer ballot of
10,000,000 emails selected worldwide from our database, your email
attached to Data File Number: F1267-2012 among "E" category won you
the sum of £1,000.000.00.

Your Winning Cheque will be issued in your name by the Microsoft
Corporation?s and mail to you via FedEx Express along with your
winning certificate. Information's required from you are part of our
precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse
of this program. You are required to fill the verification and fund
release form below.

1. Your Full Name:
2. Address:
3. Nationality:
4. Age:
5. Occupation:
6. Cell Phone:
7. State of Origin:

The Microsoft Award Team has discovered a huge number of double claims
due to winners informing close friends relatives and third parties
about their winnings and also sharing their identification numbers. As
a result of this, these friends try to claim the Winning funds on
behalf of the real winners. The Microsoft Award committee has reached
a decision that any double claim discovered by the Microsoft Promotion
Team will result to disqualification of the winning funds. You are
strongly advised once more to keep your winnings strictly confidential
until you claim your prize.

Congratulations from the Staffs & Members of the Microsoft Award Team

Secretary,
MR. Tony Leighton
Microsoft Promotion.
Telephone: +(44) 704 571 3554
Fax: +(44) 701 522 5112

© 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

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