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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: lottery.microsoft@finistere.net
Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:03:49 +0100
Subject: FELICITATIONS!!! MICROSOFT LOTTERY.INC 2008



CHER(E) LAUR=C9AT(E),

Nous vous contactons par cette pr=E9sente lettre
vous informer de votre gain =E0 la MICROSOFT LOTTERY.INC,
ceci n'=E9tant donc pas un spam ni un virus.=20
Veuillez trouver en fichier joint votre notification de gain.
Pour toutes r=E9clamations de votre gain, entrer en contact direct
avec: =20

CABINET D'ETUDE JURIDIQUE DE MA=CETRE JOSEPH BARON
Avocat accr=E9dit=E9 par la BILL GATES FOUNDATION LOTTERY 2008
01 BP 1856 ABIDJAN 01 (R=E9publique de C=F4te dIvoire)
Tel: 00225 67 15 21 97 / Fax: 00225 21 36 39 65
Email: contacthuissier_joseph.baron@voila.fr

Cordialement.

Monsieur PAUL MARTEL /Directeur des Op=E9rations
Coordinateur Internationale de la Loterie Am=E9ricaine.

FELICITATIONS!!!!!! MICROSOFT LOTTERY.INC


-------------------------------------------------
Tymail est un service d'e-mail gratuit propos=E9 par le Conseil g=E9n=E9r=
al du Finist=E8re.
Tymail zo anezha=F1 ur servij postelo=F9 digoust kinniget gant Kuzul Depa=
rtamant Penn-ar-Bed

http://www.cg29.fr=20

Anti-fraud resources: