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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: "mr raymond smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <raymondsmiths_2@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2010 14:03:31 +0100
Subject: 2010 Promotion Award Notification 218.234.17.16

2010 Promotion Award Notification
Microsoft Corporations:
Customer Service
Wrights Lane,
Kensington London W85SP,
England UNITED KINGDOM
FILE REF: HL/5564/08/09/MICS
BATCH: MC11/834/5PDH /EU
 
It is obvious that this notification will come to you as a surprise but please find time to read it carefully as we congratulate you over your success in the following official publication of results of the E-mail electronic online Sweepstakes organized by Microsoft, in conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of software products, (F.P.S.)
held this Year 2010,in London UK. Where in your email address emerged as one of the online Winning emails in the 2nd category and therefore attracted a cash award of??950.000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand pounds sterling) Our winners are arranged into four categories with different winning prizes accordingly in each category. They are arranged in this format below:
They are arranged in this format below.
CATEGORY NO.OF WINNERS WINNING PRIZES
 
1st. 15,000.00 pounds each
2nd. 950,000.00 pounds each
3rd. 4500,000.00 pounds each
4th. 250,000.00 pounds each
FOR VERIFICATION PURPOSE PLEASE INCLUDE:
 
(1) Your contact address...........................
(2) Your Tel/Fax numbers.........................
(3) Your Nationality/Country..............................
{4} Your Full Names................................
(5) Occupation/Age/Sex..........................................
(6) Your Preferred Method Of Receiving Your Price From Below)
(7) Amount Won
 
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. NOTE: Do not disclose your Prize Award until your money is successfully handed over to you to avoid disqualification that may arise from double claim.Microsoft shall not be held responsible for any loss of fund arising from the above mentioned.
Do reply to this email, send your reply and enquiries to: We write to officially notify you of this award and to advise you to contact the Claims agents (Dr Robson Vick) immediately by phone
on (+44 7024053868) upon receipt of this message for more information concerning the verification, processing and eventual payment of the above prize to you.
 
*************************************************************
THE FOREIGN TRANSFER MANAGER MICROSOFT SECURITY DEPARTMENT (UK).
MR RAYMOND SMITH
 
Email: (raymondsmiths_2@yahoo.co.jp  )
*************************************************************
The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by our Yahoo and a consortium of software promotion companies. A HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS! from the Staffs & Members of the
interative Lottery Board Commission.
Sincerely, MR. MICHAEL SEEDWELLM.S.PRO.
ZONAL COORDINATOR
This email and any attachments may be confidential and/or subject to copyright or other intellectual property right protection. If you are not the intended recipient of the email, you are not permitted to use or disclose any information contained in the email or any attachments
and we request you notify the sender and delete.
 

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