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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.

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

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: ms-w56b672ghl@sys-w.com
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 11:39:16 -1000
Subject:

MICROSOFT LOTTERY
REFERENCE NUMBER: MSW/56B-672GH/L
WINNING NUMBER: 02-03-17-22-40-42-{12}

To Email Bearer,

Your e-mail, attached to Winning Number: 02-03-17-22-40-42-{12}
consequently won in the Tenth lottery category of the MICROSOFT LOTTERY
New Year Promo.


All participants were selected by the microsoft ballot system which was
drawn from each continents. You are therefore been approved for lump sums
pay out of £5,000,000.00 GBP (Five Million Great British Pounds).

Indicate your prefer prize Remit Option: (1).Bank Wire Transfer or
(2).Courier Delivery. To file for your claims, you are to fill out the
below information and send it to Claims Processor.

CLAIMS INFORMATIONS:
1.Full Names:.........
2.Sex/Age:............
3.Occupation:........
4.Country:............
5.Address:............
6.Phone number:.......
7.Remit Option:.......

Contact Claims Processor:
Name: Mr. Phil Hodkinson
E-mail: ms-w56b672ghl@sys-w.com
Tel: + 447-011-137-259

Best Regards,
Mr. Phil Hodkinson

Anti-fraud resources: