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Microsoft Sweepstakes Scam Email:
Microsoft Anniversary Draws
"Mrs. Susan Oxford, Microsoft Awards", "Mr. John Adu"
Have you received an email from "Mrs. Susan Oxford, Microsoft Awards" at "Microsoft Anniversary Draws" telling you that "your
email address won in the second category" or something similar, and to
contact "Mr. John Adu" to collect your winnings? It is a
scam.
Did you know that Microsoft has a awards sweepstakes in which they
randomly give away money to people whose email addresses Microsoft magically
"collected"? This is news to Microsoft, too. It is a
scam.
Microsoft has never had any anniversary awards sweepstakes, or
any other type of lottery or sweepstakes (and we're pretty sure they never
will). Bill Gates has made that pretty clear.
And, while we're on
the subject, Microsoft is not, does not, and will not ever send you to DisneyWorld. They
don't "test the internet", nor sponsor email lotteries to "promote use of the
internet", "to promote the use of email", to reward users, nor "to
promote the use of computers
worldwide". Nor do they have lotteries to "promote MS Word" or "the launch
of Vista", Hotmail, or other products. No lottery selects winners "using a
database of email addresses", or "from websites worldwide", or from "our
computer ballot system".
The scammers may change the names and details, but it is still a
scam! Don't be completely gullible!
Below is the example of the fake lottery scam claiming to
be from the "Microsoft Anniversary Draws".
Although the most important clue is that there is NO
Microsoft sweepstakes, lottery or any other giveaway, 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.
-
Terrible spelling, punctuation, syntax and grammar - Scammers
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
Microsoft would write to your from and have you reply to an address "@Microsoft.com"?
-
Keep Confidential - Real sweepstakes and lotteries THRIVE on
publicity - they don't want you to keep anything secret - the publicity
causes people to enter or buy more of their products. 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!"
-
Require the winner to pay - U.S. federal law
prohibits sweepstakes from charging you for anything, not "delivery",
couriers, taxes, fees, handling charges, or anything else!
Here is a typical scam sweepstakes winning notification.
Actual scam email (One example - the scammers constantly change
names, dates and addresses!):
Microsoft Award
20 Craven Park, Harlesden
London NW10
United Kingdom
Dear Winner,
Your email address just won you $100,000.00 (One Hundred
Thousand Dollars) in the on going end of year Microsoft Anniversary Draws.
These Draws are commemorative and as such special Please
note that your lucky winning number falls within our Africa booklet
representative in west Africa indicated in your play coupon, In view of this,
your $100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Dollars) Cheque would be released to you
by our fiduciary agent in West Africa
Our Fiduciary agent will immediately
commence the process to facilitate the release of your cheque as soon as you
contact he.
Claims Agent: Mr. John Adu
Email:
johnadu10@yahoo.com.hk
Contact the Claims Agent with the below
datas:
Name in full:
Address:
Occupation:
Tel:
Age/Sex:
Present Country:
Sincerely,
Mrs. SUSAN OXFORD
Co-ordinator
Microsoft Promotion Team
Names of Scam / Fake / Fraud Lottery
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified
sweepstakes and lottery
scams companies
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