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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: <msoftagency@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:26:41 +0100
Subject: claim your prize


Winner No. 005,

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 Corporation, in conjunction with the
foundation for the promotion of software products, (F.P.S.) held in Amsterdam- The Netherlands.

A Payment of 615.810.00 Euros (Six hundred and fifteen Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ten Euros only) will be paid in your name.

It is important to note that your award was released with the following particulars attached to it.

(1) File Number: F1267-2010
(2) Ref. Code: KP23/857/MCL5 /CO
(3) Grant Number: MICC/97846563459/206

Forward The Following Information as Listed Below and Send to Microsoft Agency NL.

.Full Names:
.Address:
.Tel(Mobile):
.Nationality/Country:
.Occupation/Position:
.Age/Sex:

Microsoft Group Agency NL:
Director: Dr.David Bengal
Contact Email: msoftagency@aol.com
Tel: +31 647 269 452

Soon as the Above Information is received Through E-mail to: msoftagency@aol.com, your payment will be processed and paid to you.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Angela Banks
Head Customer care Service
Microsoft Promotion.

Anti-fraud resources: