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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 Corporation" <desk1910@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: counsel1985@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 08:09:44 -0300
Subject: ****Congratulations Lucky Winner***!!!‏

Dear Microsoft User,

This is to inform you that you have been selected for a cash prize of
£1,000,000.00 (One Million Great British Pound Sterling) from Microsoft
Corporation 2011 Lottery International programs held Today in London, United
Kingdom.

The selection process was carried out through random selection in our
computerized email selection system (ess) from a database of over 250,000
email addresses including Gmail account and other random domain selections
drawn from all the continents of the world.
The Microsoft Corporation Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board and
also licensed by The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).
This promotional lottery is the 3rd of its kind and we intend to sensitize the
public.

To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact our MS Claims Office
for more information as regards procedures to claim your prize.
REF No: L/200-26937, BATCH No: 2011MJL-01

To file for your claim, call your fiduciary agent and forward your information
in the order below to his email address:

MS CLAIMS OFFICE
U.K OFFICE.ENGLAND, LHART STREET 34, WALSALL.WS1 3PE
WEST MIDLAND, LONDON. 70 1NL UNITED KINGDOM.

Claims Officer: Dr. James Ian Cole
TEL : +44 871 264 1822
Email: counsel1985@hotmail.com

Payment Processing Form:

Contact him by providing your REF No: L/200-26937 & BATCH No: 2011MJL-01. You
are also advised to provide him with the under listed information as soon as
possible:

1. Name in full
2. Address
3. Nationality
4. Age & Gender
5. Occupation
6. Phone (Mobile)
7. Present Country

We ask that you keep this award personal, till your claims have been processed
and your funds remitted to you. This is a part of our security measures to
avoid double claiming or unwarranted participants or impostors, taking
advantage of the situation

Failure to claim your prize (CASH) would result to forfeiting and will be used
for next 10,000,000 Pounds Sterling international lottery program.
Once again congratulations.

Regards,
Microsoft Team

Microsoft® 2011. © 1993-2011 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

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