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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: "Microsoft Award Promotions" <infoihss@mcom.com>
Reply-To: rstagency@aim.com
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:11:34 -0500 (ECT)
Subject: Microsoft Winning Notifications




Microsoft Promotion Award Team
40 Rye crofts Way Stopsley
London,
United Kingdom.

MICROSOFT WINNING NOTIFICATION.... PROMO

The prestigious Microsoft® Windows XP Corporations wishes to inform you
that your e-mail address emerged as one of their online lucky Winners
selected from our private computerized lottery drawn here in London United
Kingdom and this selection process was carried out through a random
selection in our Computerized Email Selection System (C.E.S.S.) from a
database of over a million email addresses from the world wide web.

This promotion was set-up to encourage the active users of the Internet
Microsoft® Windows. Hence we do believe that with your winning prize, you
will continue to be active and patronage to the Microsoft® Windows XP
Corporations.

Therefore you have won the sum of £500,000.00 pounds {Five Hundred
Thousand Great British Pounds}. A winning cheque will be issued in your
name by the Microsoft® Windows XP Corporation and also a certificate of
prize claims will be sent to you along side with your winnings cheque. You
are to make contact with your designated agent who shall by duty, guide
you through the process of facilitating the release of your Prize.

For claims,you are advised to contact your designated appointed agent
(Mr.Brian Hilton)Of RST Limited on email:rstagency@aim.com ,phone
number:(+44)7031741576
with the following details below.

VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM.

(1) Your contact Address:
(2) Your Tel/Mobile Number:
(3) Your Nationality:
(4) Current Country:
(5) Your Full Names:
(6) Occupation:
(7) Date Of Birth:
(8) Your Preferred Method Of Receiving Your Prize (From Below) Mode Of
Prize Remittance.

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

(B) Bank to Bank Wire Transfer Of Winning Sum Into Your Bank Account In
Your Country.

Once again on behalf of all our staff and Managements we say CONGRATULATIONS!

Your prompt responds is highly needed.


Sincerely,

Microsoft Promotion Award Team,
United Kingdom Sub Region.

Anti-fraud resources: