dear sir the msn/yahoo lottery send a mail date-28.12.08 in my id .you win a prize of 500, 000great britain pound, the second letter come 30.12.2008, from sppdage [protected]@live.com and he told the delivery charges 310 pounds first u paid .this matter is true or false Reply as soon as possible Was this information helpful? | 
First, it ought to be obvious to anyone with a 5th grade education that Microsoft does NOT have a lottery of any kind, and never will. For-profit business rarely run lotteries in the developed world; and only under strict government regulation and supervision.
Secondly, if a company like Microsoft or Yahoo were to sponsor a lottery, don't you think that it would be well publicized? After all, isn't that the point?
Wouldn't you also expect that the address, phone numbers and email address would be those associated with the company, and probably from their global headquarters? Microsoft's HQ is in Redmond, Washington, USA; not the UK, and they certainly don't need to use free email accounts from their competitor, Yahoo, to write to you!
If you win a lottery, aren't the winnings yours to use as you please? Why would they say "We do believe that your winnings will be put into good use for community, educational and business development. " This is typical scammer stupidity.
Below is the example of the fake lottery scam claiming to be from the "Microsoft Award Team, MICROSOFT LOTTERY COMPANY DESK, MICROSOFT LOTTERY AWARD PROMOTION".
Although the most important clue is that no legitimate lottery will ever email a winner, there are many other signs that this is a fraud. We have highlighted some of these in the email below, not the least of which are:
Email address ballot: There is no such thing as a "computer ballot system" or "computer email draw". No one, not even Microsoft has a database of email addresses of the type or magnitude they suggest.
"No tickets were sold": You care to explain where the money comes from? Perhaps the lottery money fairy? Why would a lottery give away money to "email address randomly selected by a computer ballot draw system"? This is CLEARLY nonsense: you MUST, repeat MUST buy a ticket to have a chance of winning any lottery!
Terrible spelling, punctuation, syntax and grammar - Notice "DUELY" instead of "duly", "These documents has been" instead of "These documents have been", and plenty more examples. These show that a illiterate criminal wrote this, not an educated professional person who would be employed by Microsoft. Scammers also apparently don't know how to use spell checkers. We assume they dropped out of school before that class. They use almost excessive and random CapItaLiZAtion. They often can't even spell "February" or know that "22th" ought to be "22nd". These scammers usually write at the 3rd grade level. Being non-native English speakers, they also often get first names and surnames (last names reversed), so you will frequently see names like "Mr. SMITH JAMES.", instead of "Mr. James Smith", along with the peculiar usage of periods (full stops) and spaces or the lack thereof. Real lotteries also proofread their emails and look and read more professional.
Using free email account: The scammer is writing to you from a FREE email account (Yahoo, Hotmail, Excite, AIM, Gmail, etc.). Don't you think a real organization would use it's own email, it's own domain and website?
Keep Confidential - Real lotteries THRIVE on publicity - they don't want you to keep anything secret - the publicity causes people to buy more tickets. there is NO risk of "double claiming" because they can validate where the ticket numbers were sold. The scammer want you to keep quiet because they don't want the police or ConsumerFraudreporting to hear about them! It should read: "For our own security, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential until we have finished scamming you!"
Email notification: NO REAL LOTTERY SENDS AN EMAIL TO NOTIFY WINNERS. Period. Full-stop. End of story. There mere fact ALONE that you received an email saying you won a lottery is proof that it is a scam.
Here is a typical scam lottery winning notification.
Master list of sample lottery scam emails
How to recognize a lottery scam
What to do if you think you have been the victim of a lottery scam
How the lottery / sweepstakes scams work
1. Actual scam email (One example - the scammers constantly change names, dates and addresses!):
From: Dr.Christopher Mcdonald < [protected]@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Jan 14, 2008 3:49 PM
Subject: CONTACT GLOBAL COURIER FOR DELIVERY
Microsoft Award Team
120 Craven Park,
London NW10
United Kingdom
Ref: BTD/968/05
Batch: 409978E
Dear, _<potential victim>,
Congratulations once again on behalf of the MICROSOFT LOTTERY COMPANY DESK . We do believe that your winnings will be put into good use for community, educational and business development.
On Behalf of the Screening Committee of BOARD, I wish to formally announce to you that you have successfully passed the Email Screening and Verification Form Matching Test conducted for all online winners in your Category. Hence you are therefore cleared. your cheque has been issued and you can now claim your fund.
All necessary documents that will facilitate the clearance of your cheque in your name has been processed. Your parcel contains the following documents:
1.WINNING CHEQUE VALUED THE SUM OF £500, 000.00
2.WINNING CERTIFICATE FROM THE MICROSOFT LOTTERY AWARD PROMOTION.
3.CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES(C.S.F.C.)
4.LETTER OF AFFIDAVITS FROM THE BRITISH HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE,
STATING THAT THE WINNING WAS RECEIVED LEGALLY FROM THE MICROSOFT PROGRAM, AND DUELY SIGNED BY THE LEGAL ATTORNEY TO THE LOTTERY BOARD.
These documents has been securely sealed and packed for security reasons which makes it impossible for anyone to view it until its been delivered to you and there are some document you have to sign after you have receive the prize. TAKE NOTE.
Your parcel with IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: PC/3445X/2007 and PIN MCL/676/66421/W has been sent to our affiliated courier company (GLOBAL EXPRESS COURIER SERVICE ). You are required to contact the courier officer of GLOBAL EXPRESS COURIER CUSTOMER DESK with your IDENTIFICATION NUMBER AND PIN.
Contact person,
MR: COLE smith.
Phone:[protected]
Email address: [protected]@yahoo.co.uk
NOTE:Services rendered by Global Express Couriers Service are to be paid by you and not the lottery board. Have it in mind that your won prize cannot be deducted from, this is because your cheque cannot be cashed by anyone. This is in accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the national gambling act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3RD July 1996 by the constitutional assembly. This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds.
Its is imperative that you add your identification number and pin as the subject of any correspondence with the courier company to ensure they respond in a timely manner.
I will require an update on proceedings with the firm as soon as you are in contact with them. If you need any assistance what so ever, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Warm Regards,
Dr.Christopher Mcdonald
2. Potential victim's reply to the scammer
dear sir,
Thanks for your reply, but i would like to inform you that right now i am not in a position to send you any advance payment for the same. I will be glad if you send the parcel on cash on delivery basis, whatever extra charges will be required i will pay at the time of delivery.
regards,
3. The Scammer's reply to the potential victim
On 1/15/08, cole smith <[protected]@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Global Express Courier Service
HEAD OFFICE
Unit 6, Marino Way,
Hogwood Lane Industrial Estate,
Finchampstead, Berkshire
RG40 4RF, United Kingdom
Attention. <victim's name>,
Welcome to Global Express Couriers Services.We are a well established company offering courier and transport services 24 hour a day for priority delivery of letters, parcels and consignments to any destination by road, air or sea.
You are to please confirm your winning information below if they are yours in other for us to validate it into our database delivery system.
PARCEL/NUM/3232
Batch number...YM 09102XN
Reff number...YM 35447XN
Winning number...YM09788.
We have a substantial team of couriers available for motorcycle dispatch plus van driver couriers in all size vehicles from small vans upto 7.5 tone and international couriers for dispatch by road, sea or air.This is to inform you that we are in possession of a certified parcel with identification number parcel/num/3232 which is to be forwarded to you.
Your particulars have been received in this office from the microsoft-yahoo UK incorporations. This means that you have been officially cleared for payment by the Verifications Dept. at the headquarters of the MICROSOFT-YAHOO UK ONLINE LOTTERY PROMOTIONS. Your winning check, original copy of your winning certificate, together with a covering document (Money Laundering protection and Letter of Affidavit for Claims) from the British government stating that the money was obtained legally through their Lottery promotion will be sent to you.
We will only deliver the parcel to the address you have given us and who ever will be receiving the parcel must have a valid identification of him/herself.
To begin the final step of the claims process,
Below are the mandatory charges that you required to pay to enable us courier your certified parcel to you. You are allowed to choose one of our three specified shipment options.
Choose Options:
1.Express Delivery
2.Courier Regular
3.Courier Regular late .
Global Courier World Wide Delivery Online
24hours day delivery
2-3 Working days
4-5 working days
Mailing.
£170.00
£150.00
£120.00
Insurance
£80.00
£80.00
£80.00
Vat (5%)
£300.00
£200.00
£150.00
TOTAL COST GB(Pounds)
£550:00
£430:00
£350:00
Note:Global courier Service do not carry out Cash On Delivery (C.O.D) facilities as all payments must be forwarded and confirmed at our Accounts Department before shipment can commence.Insurance on your parcel is compulsory because the financial status of the parcel.
Shipping our parcel without insurance will be an illegal act on our part. This means payment for the insurance fee must be made before shipment can commence to avoid risk. We can not afford to pay for your parcel if anything goes wrong. This is why your parcel must be insured with the British Insurance Ministry.
Indicate your shipment option. for delivery within four (4) working days from this communication.
NOTE:All orders not delivered within four (4) working days from this communication will be returned to the lottery organisation. Do acknowledge the receipt of this mail.
We are glad to be of service to you and have a nice day.
Mr.Cole Smith
Dispatch Officer
TELEPHONE:
Tel : +44-[protected]
Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox.
4. Not hearing back from the potential victim, the scammers try to apply some pressure, again using pathetically poor English and from a free Yahoo email account; neither of these are something you would expect from someone representing Microsoft in a lottery winning!
From: cole smith < [protected]@yahoo.co.uk >
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 03:13:06 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: UPDATE
DEAR <victim's name>
YOUR MAIL WAS READ AND QUIT UNDESTAND.BUT YOU SEE CANNOT GO AGAINST OUR COMPANY POLICY. ALL PAYMENT ARE TO BE MADE IN ADVANCEMENT ONCE THIS IS CONFIRM BY OUR ACCOUNT OFFICER YOUR PARCEL WILL BE DELIVERY TO IN THE NEXT 48HOURS.
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS FOR YOU TO SEND TO THIS OFFICE THE DELIVERY OPTION WHICH YOU HAVE CHOOSEN SO THAT WE CAN SEND AN ACCOUNT WHICH YOU ARE TO DEPOSIT THE SAID AMOUNT.
REGARDS
MR COLE SMITH
[protected][protected]
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