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Fake Microsoft Mega Jackpot Lottery EMail

The Sophisticated Scammer

Scammer school must have hired some new professors. Lately, I’ve noticed these emails are getting more sophisticated, and this one is a great example. Here, the use of the Microsoft logo in the header is a master stroke. The layout of the text adds to the authoritative presentation. The wording has been reasonably proofread, though it still contains enough Scam Flags to make it easy to expose.

Before we get started, take a look at the email as it appeared in my Thunderbird. Notice 1st who the email is “from”. Firstly, the only match with that phrase in Google is this email. But more than that, just who is “ladyx_m@terra.cl”? (Dot cl is the internet country code for Chile.) Now notice the “reply-to” address. Notice anything? That’s right, it’s a Yahoo.com.uk address! So already, we’re seeing right through the ruse.

We can explore this piece of fakery now, and see what else they got right (or wrong). As always, Scam Flags are in BOLD, and my comments usually in parentheses.

MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERY UK .

REF NO: MSW/56B-672GH/L
BATCH: 4583JL/WIN
MICROSOFT EMAIL LOTTERY AWARD PROMOTION: UNITED KINGDOM

Finally today (finally?), we announce the winners of the MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS held on the 1st of MAY, 2008. Your company or your personal e-mail address, attached to winning number 23-76-06-54-42-100, With,(CAPS) serial number 647489, consequently won in the Tenth(CAPS) lottery category.

You have been approved for lump sumspay out ( “lump sum” ) of $8,000,000 USD in cash Credited(CAPS) to file REF NO: MSW/56B-672GH/L and winning number 23-76-06-54-42-100. Selection process was carried out through random selection in our computerized email selection machine (TOPAZ)(probably a catch-word. TOPAZ is the name of a rather old technology for monitoring things on the net) from a database of over 1,000,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world.

The online draws was(verb agreement) conducted by a random selection of email addresses from an exclusive list of 29,031 E-mail addresses of individuals and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random computer search from the internet. No ticket were (verb agreement) sold but all email addresses were assigned to different ticket numbers for representation and privacy. This is to encourage our prominent Microsoft Internet Explorer users all over the world, and for the Continues use ( “continued” ) of E-mail.

Your Prize-fund has been insured with your REF NO: MSW/56B-672GH/L and winning number 23-76-06-54-42-100. To claim your winning prize, you must first contact the claims department by email for Processing(CAPS) and remittance of your prize to you.

The Claims Processor :
Name: DR. PHILIP GEORGE
E-mail: pgeorge.mmjlinc2008@yahoo.co.uk(SCAM FLAG!)
Tel: +44 702 406 4007, +44 702 406 3733
Fax: +44-700-598-3040.
Dr. Philip George
Regional Claims Officer U.K.

Do email the above email address all at once.(Just a Lousy Sentence.) In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and winning numbers in all correspondences with your claims officer. You are to keep all lotto information away from the general public especially your ticket number and ballot number.

(This is important as a case of double claims will not be entertained) .

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU ARE TO SEND THE BELOW INFORMATION REQUIRED TO CLAIM YOUR WINNING PRIZE:

1. Full Name :………………………………………………………….
2. Address :……………………………………………………………..
3. Nationality :………………………………………………………….
4. Age :……………………. Date of Birth :…………………………..
5. Occupation :…………………………………………………………
6. Home Tel :……….. Mobile Tel :……………. Fax :……………..
7. State of Origin :…………………. Country :……………………..
(Everything needed to steal your identity.)

Yours Sincerely,

Kenneth Andersson (Mr.)(That’s done wrong.)
Online Co-ordinator

Mrs. Marie-Ann Fergusson Kenneth Andersson (Mr.)(Still wrong!)
Secretary Lotto Online Co-ordinator

LOTTERY SPONSOR
Microsoft Corporation U.K.(Not only do they not exist except here in this fake email, but it’s not written the same here as it is earlier.)

_____________________________________________________________
Note;
Do not reply this mail, you are to contact your claims officer immediately by email. Microsoft Electronic Mail Lottery is approved and Licensed by The International Association. ( Sentences like this make me laugh. ‘The International Association, indeed!)

Not a bad attempt, even better than most. Yet even this one, which was obviously put together with more care than most, still contains too many lousy sentences and bad grammar to be believed. As always, a careful examination reveals flaws that just couldn’t possibly be there if the email were real.

I am Jon, reminding you that Microsoft wouldn’t use a Yahoo email address.