Avoid the “Microsoft Lottery” phishing scam

Microsoft customers are often targets of a scam, which uses false e-mail messages that promise that you have won "The Microsoft Lottery."

We're sorry to say that you did not win the Microsoft Lottery, because there is no Microsoft Lottery.

These e-mail messages are intended to start a dialogue with people in order to convince them to hand over money or personal information or to click dangerous links on the Web.

This is a type of phishing scam known as an "advanced fee fraud." Its most common form is an e-mail message that claims that you have won a large sum of money, or that a person will pay you a large sum of money for little or no work on your part.

It's also known as the Nigerian Letter or the 419 scam because the scammer often claims to be from Nigeria and 419 is the Nigerian criminal code that this scam violates.

If you have lost money to this scam, you should report it. You can also send the police report to Microsoft and we will use it to help law enforcement catch the criminals who send out these e-mails. For more information, see Report Microsoft lottery fraud. You can use the same general guidance that you use to protect yourself from phishing scams to help protect yourself from these e-mail hoaxes.

For more information, see Phishing: Frequently asked questions.

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