I received the following email: is this a scam? Yes, I think so so please beware!
Microsoft Corporations:
Customer Service
New London Road,
Chemsford
FILE REF: HL/5564/06/07/MICS
BATCH: MC11/834/5PDH /EU


Dear Winner,


It is obvious that this notification will come to you as a surprise but please find time to read it carefully as we congratulate you over your success in the following official publication of results of the E-mail electronic online Sweepstakes organized by Microsoft, in conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of software products, (F.P.S.) held this September 2008 in London UK.

Where in your email address emerged as one of the online Winning emails in the 1st category and therefore attracted a cash award of 500.000.00 (Five hundred Thousand pounds sterling) Our winners are arranged into four categories with different winning prizes accordingly in each category. They are arranged in this format below:


These are your identification numbers:MCS-26799/097


CATEGORY NO.OF WINNERS WINNING PRIZES
1st. 2 :500, 000.00 pounds each
2nd. 8 :350.000.00 pounds each
3rd. 13 :250, 000.00 pounds each
4th. 27 :70, 000.00 pounds each


We write to officially notify you of this award and to advise you to contact the processing office immediately upon receipt of this message for more information concerning the verification, processing and eventual payment of the above prize to you.


It is important to note that your award information was released with the following particulars attached to it.


(1) Award numbers: NL 56/7766
(2) Email ticket numbers: EAASL-130877
(3) Batch numbers: MC11/834/8PDH /EU
(4) The file reference numbers: HL/5574/41/07/MICS {5} Serial Numbers: McST/006/NL46560


1. Full names:
2. Residential address:
3. Phone number:
4. Fax number:
5. Occupation:
6. Sex:
7. Age:
8. Nationality:
9. Present Country:
10.Next of kin name/address:


Mode Of Price Remittance.


(1)Cash Pick-Up (You coming Down to Uk Personally to Pick Your Price).


(2)Courier Delivery Of your Certified Winning Cheque Name and other Winning Documents safely to you.


To file for your claim, Please contact your Validating Officer for VALIDATION of your winning within Twenty-nine working days of this winning notification. Winnings that are not validated within Twenty-nine working days of winning notification are termed void and invalid. You are required to mention the above particulars of your award in every correspondence to enable the Agent validate your winning.


CONTACT:
*******************************************************************
FOREIGN TRANSFER MANAGER
MR.LARRY SMITH.
MICROSOFT SECURITY DEPARTMENT (UK).
E-mail:[email protected]
*******************************************************


The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by our CEO/Chairman, Bill Gates and a consortium of software promotion companies. The Intel Group, Toshiba, Dell Computers and other International Companies. The Microsoft internet E-mail draw is held periodically and is organized to encourage the use of the Internet and promote computer literacy worldwide.


Once again on behalf of all our staff,


CONGRATULATIONS!


Sincerely,

MR.STEVE CLERK.
M.S.PRO. ZONAL COORDINATOR.