The Msn / Yahoo Lottery Incorporation — Email Scam

Hi
I received the below email, please let me know why most of these scams coming from or with UK name?
And using email addresses with same name of Microsoft,
and what is the way to prevent hackers to do that?
last question is there a real priz offered by microsoft towards internet users or not?
Thanks
WINNING NOTIFICATION DEPT
MSN-MICROSOFT AWARD LOTTERY PROGRAM
United Kingdom, 61-70
Southampton Row
Bloomsbury London WINNER NO 6
United Kingdom WC 1B 4AR.
10th March 2010
Ref: MS[protected] Batch: 744RT/MSN/UK


We the MSN MICROSOFT MANAGEMENT WORLDWIDE are pleased to inform you today being the 10th of March 2010 of winners of our annual MSN/MICROSOFT PROMOTION AWARD PROGRAM conducted in UNITED KINGDOM on the 10th of March 2010

Your E-mail address is attached to WINNER NO 6, with serial number: [protected] and drew the lucky numbers:[protected], Batch No: 744RT/MSN/UK which consequently won in the 3rd lottery category. You have therefore been approved for lump sums pay of $1,000,000.00 Dollars (One Million United State Dollars) in cash, Credited to file REF NO: MS_[protected].

This is from the total prize money of $40,000,000.00 Pounds which is to be shared among the Fourth international winners in categories C .


All participants in this program were selected randomly through our MSN/MICROSOFT Computer Ballot System, drawn from 85.000.000 internet users from all search engines. Your e-mail address was picked by the automated MSN/MICROSOFT Computer Ballot System, which has been
programmed for this random selection.

This has eventually qualified you for the Winning. This promotional program takes place annually, and is promoted and sponsored by MSN/MICROSOFT Companies, with the support of British/European corporate companies and organizations to encourage the use of Internet and computers worldwide. In view of this, your prize $1,000,000.00 Dollars would be released to you by Our Prize Payment Officer (Dr. JOHNSON DESMOND). He will immediately commence the process, to facilitate the release of your lucky won prize as soon as you contact him for the claim of your lucky
prize.


You are to keep your ref. numbers and batch numbers from the public, until you have received your cash prize. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and the act of scamming /hacking people of their ref number and prizes.


You are advised to contact our Prize Processing Officer by means of email or phone to the below contact info within the hour of reading this winning notification and call the below number to confirm your winning


Dr. JOHNSON DESMOND
Office of the Prize Payment Authority
Prize Processing Officer
MSN-Award Lottery Promotion.
Email: [protected]@live.com
Tel: [protected] (Call to Verify your Winning)


When you contact(Dr. Johnson Desmond)for your payment furnish him with the following details for the issue of your WINNING CERTIFICATE/PAYMENT
(1)Full Name
(2)Present Country
(3)Date of Birth(DATE: MONTHS: YEAR:)
(4) Occupation
(5) Home/Mobile Phone
(6) Reference and Batch Numbers
(7) Nationality


Note that all prize money must be claimed not later than one month of notification. All funds not claimed on or before the fixed date will be returned as Unclaimed Prize please be aware that our Paying Authority will Effect Payment Swiftly upon satisfactory Report, Verifications and validation provided by our prize processing officer.


NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all correspondences with our payment officer.

Congratulations, once more from the entire Management and Staff of MSN/MICROSOFT COMPANY to all our lucky winners of this year.


Robert Montgomery
Chairman of board of directors

Dr.Tom Mohr
President

Dr.Mrs Hilary Schneider
Lottery Co-coordinator

Mrs. Sue Clark-Johnson
Financial Secretary

Dr. Johnson Desmond
Prize Processing Officer