419 scam: Microsoft Promotions <2014> Notification of Incoming Payment from Microsoft Cooperation ... Contact Us

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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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 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.
- jokul-green@representative.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Microsoft Promotions <2014>
Reply-To: promo@microsoftpromo.xpbks.com
Date: 07 Aug 2014 17:18:04 -0700
Subject: Notification of Incoming Payment from Microsoft Cooperation ... Contact Us

Ref No: MFSP/ 7748/782/2014

Batch: MFSP/ 955/MPWIN/US
Attenttion: To whom it may concern,

OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION
LETTER.

It is obvious that this notification will come to you as a
surprise but please find time to read it carefully as we
congratulate you over your success in the following official
publication of results of the E-mail Electronic Online
Sweepstakes Organized by Microsoft , Google, in conjunction with
the foundation for the Promotion of Software Products, (F.P.S.)
held on February 14th 2014 here in London UK.Google earns its
profit mainly from advertising using their very own Google search
engine, Gmail , Gala ,All Malaysia e-mail service Google Maps,
Google Apps, Orkut social networking and You Tube video sharing,
Microsoft Apps and Technology which are all offered to the public
for free.

We wish to congratulate you once again, for being among the
Twelve (12) selected winners in the ongoing E- mail Electronic
Online Sweepstakes. Hence we do believe with your prize, you will
continue to be active in your patronage to Google and its
Products. A Bank Draft of £460,000.00 GBP {Four Hundred and sixty
Thousand Great British Pounds} will be issued in your name by our
Foreign Payment Bureau and also a certificate of prize claim will
be sent alongside your Bank Draft.

You are advised to contact our Foreign Payment Bureau with the
following details below for the Processing of your Claims:
FOREIGN PAYMENT RELEASE FORM

(1) Your Contact Address:

(2) Your Contact Telephone/Mobile Number:

(3) Your Nationality/Country:
(4)Your Full Names:

(5) Occupation:

(6) Age/Gender:

(7) Marital Status:

(8) Private Email Address:

(9) Ever Won An Online Lottery?

(10) How Do You Feel As A Winner

Mode of Price Remittance/Claiming.
(1) Bank To Bank Wire Transfer
(2) Courier Delivery Of your Certified Winning Cheque in your
Name and other Winning Documents safely to you.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Contact our Foreign Payment Bureau officer below: Brain Hookson

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with the E-mail
accounts as follows:
Email: promotions@microsoftpromo.xpxsbk.com
Email: Jokul-green@representative.com
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
NOTE!!! For security reasons, you are advised to keep your
winning information confidential till your claims are processed
and your money remitted to you. This is part of our precautionary
measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this
program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be WARNED!!!!
Congratulations from the Staffs & Members of Google Board
Commission.

John .W. Thompson,
Chairman of the Board and Managing Director,
Microsoft Corporation

©2014 Microsoft Corporation.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam