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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: "Mrs.Susan Walter" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <micmsnn@aol.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:16:26 -0000
Subject: Re.Contact Mr Woods.

Microsoft Corporations:
Customer Service
Wrights Lane,
Kensington London W85SP
England UNITED KINGDOM
FILE REF: HL/5564/06/07/MICS
BATCH: MC11/834/5PDH /EU
NOTE CALL +44 702 408 2850 TO CONFIRM YOUR WINNINGS.
Dear Lucky Winner,
The prestigious Microsoft and AOL has set out and successfully organised a Sweepstakes marking the end of  year anniversary for 2009, we rolled out over 450,000.00 GBP (Four hundred and Fifty Thousand Great Britain Pounds) Draws. Participants for the draws were randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of web hosts which we enjoy their patronage. Your email address as indicated was drawn and attached to ticket number EAASL-130877 with serial numbers McST/006/NL46560 and drew the lucky numbers 14-21-25-39-40-47(20) which subsequently won you 450,000.00 GBP (Four hundred and Fifty Thousand Great Britain Pounds) as one of the jackpot winners in this draw.
You have therefore won the entire winning sum of 450,000.00GBP (Four hundred and Fifty Thousand Great Britain Pounds). CATEGORY NO.OF WINNERS WINNING PRIZES.
1st. 2 500,000.00 pounds each
2nd. 8 450.000.00 pounds each
3rd. 13 250,000.00 pounds each
4th. 27 170,000.00 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 For verification purpose be sure to include:
(1) Your contact address.
(2) Your Tel/Fax numbers.
(3) Your Nationality/Country.
{4} Your Full Names.
(5) Occupation/Age.
(6)How you feel as a winner.
(7) Your Preffered Method Of Receiving Your Price(From Below) 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 George E Woods.
MICROSOFT SECURITY DEPARTMENT (UK).
PHONE:+44 702 408 2850
Email.micmsnn@aol.co.uk OR microsofttuk@aol.com
************************************************************************************
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,
Dr Mrs.Susan Walter.

Anti-fraud resources: