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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: "microsoft_lotteriy_nl@go.com" <microsoft_lotteriy_nl@go.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 16:54:04 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION!!!


MICROSOFT SOURCE INTERNET SWEEPSTAKES B.V12Z ELIZABETH WALSTRAAT 1801NZ AMSTERDAM OOST,AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS.
FROM: THE OFFICE OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR.INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPTS.C.F.N; BTH34678198/2005/TYBATCH: VGF235679AAF.TEL/Fax; 0031-616-150-728.ATTN: CEO
Dear Winner,
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Internet compensation promotion programs held on the 25th of October, 2005 and it is aimed at compensating frequent Internet explorers in all over the world. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number; BN126409345 with serial number HJK10874566KT2005, batch number VGF235679AAF, lottery reference number 12065FG and drew from lucky numbers 789-487-208-127-354 which consequently won in the 2nd category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1,000,000.00 (ONE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLAR) only by the Microsoft source Company, payable in cash credited to security file numbers; BTH34678198/2005/TY at the Netherlands Payment Authority.
CONGRATULATIONS!Due to the mix up of some numbers and email addresses, we ask that you keep your winning information’s confidential until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to you in cash or into your provided bank account. This is part of our security protocols to avoid unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. MICROSOFT SOURCE INTERNATIONAL EXPLORATION COMPANY is a global leader in international software producers and one of the largest processor of software in the world since 1980. We have help people and Businesses by providing affordable, reliable and convenient payment services and software in the world today and we have invested US$2.5b into software, hardware, a simple to use interface and it is a great opportunity to anyone looking to increase sales through email marketing! so you can realize your dream of financial independence.
Note that all winners were selected through a omputer ballot-system drawn from over 600,000 companies and 350,000,000 personal email addresses from all over the world online of which four where selected at random as winners in different category. This promotion program takes place every decade connected to the Olympic sports organization. This compensational program was promoted and sponsored by William Henry Gates III and His Giant cofounder of the Microsoft Corporation, holds 30.7 percent of its stock making him one of the richest people in the United States and the world today. He was the marketing and sales strategist behind many of Microsoft's software deals. Their software became the industry standard in the early 1980s and has just increased in distribution as the company has grown, Largest software producer in the world (Microsoft) and Mr. Paul Gardner Allen (Shareholder in Microsoft). We hope that you will have the chance of receiving compensation next decade as you keep on browsing the net to boost the sales of software materials in all over the world.
To obtain your claim, please contact the processing department;MRS. LIZZY EDMOND, FOR DR.LUKE DAVIES (DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS).ECOWORLD WIDE INTERNATIONAL AGENCY BV. (MICROSOFT ACCREDITED LOTTERY CLAIM AGENCY IN THE NETHERLANDS).TEL: +31-610-085-416.Email: ecoworldintern@walla.com
Remember, all winnings must be claim not later than 10th of November, 2005. After this date all unclaimed funds will be return to the promotion company. Please note that in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to always quote your S.C.F.N and batch numbers in all your correspondence with Ecoworld Wide International Bv. Furthermore, should there be any change of your contact address or information’s about you, do inform us as soon as possible to avoid disqualification of winnings.
Congratulations once again from all the members of our staff and thank you for being part of our promotion program and publications. Finally, Any breach of confidentiality on the part of any winners will result to disqualification.
Yours Sincerely,MRS.JOSS BOUMAN. (LOTTERY CO-ORDINATOR).MICROSOFT SOURCE INTERNET EXPLORATION.

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