How to Avoid Falling Victim To Microsoft Lottery Email Scam

Microsoft Lottery Email Scam is a phishing email that is crafted to deceive gullible users into sending money or providing personal data to scammers. This scam has been around for several years and continues to be a prominent approach employed by internet criminals. In this article, we will take a closer look at this deception and what you can do to protect yourself from falling victim to Microsoft Lottery Email Scam.

Tip To Avoid Getting Scammed

How The Microsoft Lottery Email Scam Works?

This hoax in general begins with an email that seems to be coming from Microsoft or a Microsoft employee. Recipients are informed that they’ve won a lottery worth US$2,000,000 that was sponsored by Microsoft. They are also instructed to contact the International Coordinator, Mr. James Bernado, right away to claim the prize. The scammers will usually ask the recipient to send money in order to cover processing fees or taxes associated with the prize. They may also ask for personal data, such as bank account details or social security numbers, so as to process the payment. Once the scammers have received the money or personal information, they will fade away and the victim will never receive the promised prize.

Threat Summary

Name: Microsoft Lottery Email Scam

Category: Scam, Phishing

Fake Claim: Recipients have won a lottery

Disguise: Letter from Apex Microsoft Lottery

Signs:         Suspicious emails, unauthorized online purchases

Distribution: Phishing emails, rogue online pop-up ads

How to spot the Microsoft Lottery Email Scam?

When it comes to Microsoft Lottery Email Scam, there are multiple red flags to watch out for. First and foremost, it is significant to remember that Microsoft doesn’t run lotteries or contents. If you obtain an email claiming that you have won a Microsoft-sponsored lottery, it is without any doubt a scam. Another red flag is the request for payment or personal information. Legitimate lotteries and contests do not require winners to pay any fees in order to claim their prizes. They also do not ask for personal information beyond what is necessary to verify the winner’s identity. If an email asks for payment or personal information, it is likely a scam.

How to protect yourself from such scams?

The best way to safeguard yourself from Microsoft Lottery Email Scam, Automatically Generated Invoice Email Scam, and other similar hoaxes is to be careful and skeptical of unsolicited emails. If an email is delivered to your inbox claiming that you’ve won a lottery or contest, take the time to research the company or organization that is allegedly sponsoring it. If the entity is unknown or the email appears questionable, avoid responding. It is also worth mentioning that legitimate lotteries and contests never ask for payment or personal data in order to claim prizes. If a mail asks for payment or personal info, don’t respond.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can Microsoft Lottery Email Scam affect me?

The deceptive mail is designed to trick people into sending money or personal information to fraudsters. So, if you fall victim to this, you may end up having money lost, sensitive data stolen and suffering from serious privacy issues, identity theft, and other unkind issues.

What to do if I get scammed?

If you have fallen victim to Microsoft Lottery Email Scam or any other deception, it is vital to report it to the authorities. This can help prevent other novice users from falling victim to the same scam in the future. Besides, they can also aid you recover the loss you suffered because of being scammed.

Message In The Fake Letter:

Subject: Congratulations

NEW JERSEY LOTTERY DISTRICT OFFICE

1333 Brunswick Avenue,

Lawrence Township,

NJ 08648

APEX MICROSOFT LOTTERY

Ref Number: NLUS/910/16454

Batch Number: VC/32/ID1141

ATTN:LUCKY WINNER

  Congratulations!!! Your email address has won US$2,000,000.00 in our Apex Microsoft Lottery Promo. Call the International Coordinator with the below information for your claim immediately.

Mr James Bernado

International Coordinator

Email : [email protected]

Tel: +1 (203) 720-8224

WhatsApp: +1 (567) 402-0498

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove Microsoft Lottery Email Scam:

Remove the related items of Microsoft Lottery Email Scam using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing Microsoft Lottery Email Scam issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (Microsoft Lottery Email Scam) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to Microsoft Lottery Email Scam removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter.  In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to Microsoft Lottery Email Scam still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove Microsoft Lottery Email Scam plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”.  Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in Microsoft Lottery Email Scam removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete Microsoft Lottery Email Scam (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications.  Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.