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.
i got an mail lik dis…
AOL/MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS South West London Consultants,3 Millbank Court, London, SW1P 4LG Phone:+:4470-31858832 Fax: +44-706-077-61 REF NO: (M154S/WL04-F0442623) CHIP NO9465021)
Attn:B.Revathy
This is to inform you that you have been cleared/approved payment as one of winners of the AOL/MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS. I Mr.William Smith the Promotion Manager of the Aol/ Microsoft mega jackpotgame Promotion Award Team is happy to inform you that the original copy of winning certificate/certified bank check of (Five Hundred Thousand Great British pounds ) has been registered and forwarded to Global Courier company for delivery.Find below the details of the courier company….GLOBAL COURIER SERVICES 23 Sheldon Square, London W2 6PY,United Kingdom.
Phone :redacted
Email:globadeliveryservices@redacted
Kindly fill this form below and contact the Courier Company above via Email/Phone for the 24hours delivery of your winnings. PARCEL REGISTRATION NO: BAC-902 -7640ORDER CODERD-FL/668530092
FULL NAMES:_______________________
CONTACT ADDRESS: _________________
POSTAL CODE: _____________________
CELL PHONE _______________________
COUNTRY: _________________________
Note:
1.The delivery charges are to be covered by Winners and cannot be deducted from their Winnings.2.Quote your complete names,winning amount and your direct cell/home phone number so that they can honour your request.Congratulations once more from members and staffs of the Aol/Microsoft Lottery Promotion Award Team.
Sincerely,
Mr.William Smith
Online Co-Ordinator.
AND I REPLIED FOR THAT..I DONT KNOW DAT IT WAS A SPAM..KINDLY HELP ME
If you have already responded, there’s not alot you can do. Lucky for you, the only thing I see here that’s immediately dangerous is that you gave out your real home address and your real phone number. With those 2 pieces of information, a scammer can steal your identity.
SO CHANGE YOUR PHONE NUMBER IMMEDIATELY!
Change your phone number and then go to your bank and make sure they have the correct phone number. Make sure every company you deal with has the new phone number. Do this NOW.
~jon
I RECEIVED A SIMILAR MSG
CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE A WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FROM: THE DESK OF THE DIRECTORATE PROMOTIONS,INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF NO: M154S/WL04-F0442623
Finally today,we announce the winners of the AOL/MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT
LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS held on 20th,December, 2009.Your personal e-mail
address,won in the second lottery category 002. Consequently,you have
therefore been approved for a total pay out of £500,000.00 Pounds (Five
Hundred Thousand pounds Sterllings) only. The following particulars are
attached to your lottery payment order:Credited to file REF
NO:154S/WL04-F0442623.and AOL/MICRO (LOTTERY) CHIP NO: 9465021, you are
the second lucky winner of the total winners of 10.
All the 1,00 000 participants were selected through our Microsft computer
ballot system (MCBS) drawn from each continent, as part of International
“E-MAIL”Promotions Program, to promote the use of emails all over the
World, and to promote the use of Microsoft Office. Your funds (certified
and to promote the use of Microsoft Office. Your funds (certified Cashiers
cheque) have been insured with your REF NO: M154S/WL04-F0442623.To claim
your winning prize, you must first, contact the claims agent with below
required details. forwarded your claim information to the claim agent
via:E-mail contact only:williamsmith200000@yahoo.com.hk
1. Full Name…………..
2. Contact Address…….
3. Age……………….
4. Marital Status……..
5. Country……………
7. Occupation…………
8. Sex……………….
9. Phone Number……….
10.Photo passport scan…
Regards,
Your Agent
Mr.William Smith
I REPLIED TO DIS EMAIL…I DIDNT KNW ITS A SCAM SO WAT SHUD I DO?
If you gave out accurate information to these questions, then you have just given away everything needed to steal your identity. You should change all the info that you can change and then update your credit reports with the new information.
The next thing you should do is stop being greedy. Stop thinking you can get something like this for nothing. Use your brain. There were so many things wrong in that email, from bad grammar to wrong email addresses to misspelling the name of the ‘sponsoring’ corporation. I mean seriously, is Microsoft going to send you money from a Yahoo address located in China?
I am constantly amazed at how many folks believe these things. If it sounds too good to be true, IT IS!
~jon
sir today i got the mail like this by yahoo