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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr Frank James" <drfrank_james@frankjamesworld.com>
Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2005 02:19:41 +0000
Subject: DEAR WINNER,

FROM: THE DESK OF THE E-MAIL PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
MICROSOFT WORD LOTTERY,UK
3b Olympic Way, Sefton Business Park,
Aintree, Liverpool , L30 1RD

REF NO: MSW-L/200-26937
BATCH: 2005MJL-01

ELECTRONIC MAIL AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION.


DEAR WINNER,

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today of winners of
the MSW MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS held on 21th SEPTEMBER

2005.

Your company or your personal e-mail address, is attached to winning
number 20-12DEC-2004-02MSW, with serial number S/N-00168 drew the lucky
numbers 887-13-865-37-10-83, and consequently won in the first lottery
category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of GBP
1,400,000.00 POUNDS in cash credited to file REF NO: MSW-L/200-26937
This is from total prize money of GBP 7,000,000.00 POUNDS, shared among
the Twenty (5)international winners in this category.

All participants were selected through our microsoft computer ballot
system drawn form 21,000 names,3,000 names from each continent, as part
of International "E-MAIL" Promotions Program, which is conducted
annually for our prominent MS WORD user all over the world, and for the
continues use of E-mail. We are sorry to let you know that our site is
still under construction, as we are updating our site.

Your fund has been deposited in an escrow account and insured with
your REF NO: MSW-L/200-26937 and your E-mail address, Please note that,
you are to contact us via email and not phone as we are promoting the
use of E-mail, any communications with this office should be by mail,
You have the right to call the bank, as we will provide you with the
necessary details on how to claim your prize.

You are to keep your ref. number and batch number from the public,
until you have been processed and your money remitted to your account.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and
the act of scamming people of their ref number and prizes. We hope with
a part of your prize, you will participate in our year high stakes
US$1.3 billion International Lottery.

To claim your winning prize, you must first contact the claims
department by email for processing and remittance of your prize money
to you. you will pay the processing fees of 390 GBP to the claims
officer first, before they will process the payment of your lotto
wining
prize.

The claims officer contact email is:

Name:DR .FRANK JAMES
TEL: + 44-7040101893
E-mail:drfrank_james06@yahoo.co.uk


Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than the 29th of
August, 2005. All funds not claimed on or before the fixed date will be
penalised accordingly.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all
correspondences with your claims officer. Any winner below the age of
18 years is automatically disqualified

Sincerely,

MR.JOHN MARCEL
For MS WORD LOTTO UK:
NOTE: Do not reply this mail. You are to contact your claims officer
immediately for more detials.

SPONSORS:
CHIEF SPONSOR;
MICROSOFT CO-OPERATIONS UK, MICROSOFT CO OPERATIONS ASIA

MICROSOFT
CO-OPERATIONS USA , Swift Courier Express UK, AND Metro Private Bank


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