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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: " Dr.Nail Michael." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nail1927@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2011 02:53:53 +0530
Subject: MICROSOFT INTERNET PROMOTIONS

The Microsoft Award Team
Morley House, 26-30 Holbein Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BP.UK.
Batch No: 3566465021-0TA/06.
Ref No: 919347/749-0.
Winning No: 7-28-87-65-69-73.
The prestigious Microsoft / MSN companies has set out and successfully organized a Sweepstakes marking the year 2011 anniversary; Then rolled out over US$ 900,000,000.00 (Nine Hundred Million U. S. Dollars Only) for this year's Anniversary Draws. Email addresses of participants for the draws were randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of internet web hostings which we enjoy their patronage. The MICROSOFT 2011 INTERNET PROMOTIONS was held this Month at Stamford Bridge Stadium London United Kingdom.Your email address has therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$ 1,000.000.00 (One Million United States Dollars Only) in cash credited to File NO: KTU/9023118308/03.. To file for your claim, Please contact our Claim Agent immediately through his contact information as follows:
Contact Person: Dr.Nail Michael.
Direct Tel: +447014232171..
Contact email: (nail1918@hotmail.com)
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Grace Sanders.
Online coordinator
For MICROSOFT INTERNET PROMOTIONS

Anti-fraud resources: