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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: "Offshore Customercare" <offshorrecustomercare@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2006 16:34:08 +0000
Subject: CLAIMS PROCESSING FORM.

  

Microsoft

  

DEAR ESTEEMED WINNER,
              YOUR WINNING HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED AS YOUR REFERENCES CORRESPONDED WITH THE ONES I HAVE OVER HERE,THE SUBSIQUENT IS A CLAIMS PROCESSING FORM,DO FILL IT APPROPRIATELY AND SUBMIT BACK TO ME,AFTER WHICH YOU SHALL BE REFERED TO OUR BANK FROM WHERE YOUR PRIZE WILL BE RELEASED TO YOU.
  
 
  
  
CLAIMS PROCESSING FORM.
  
WINNER'S PERSONAL DATA
  
 
  
..........................................................................................................................................
Last name First and middle names

.
  
...........................................................................................................................................................................
Mailing address
  
 
  
City:.................................State:........................ ZipCode:...................................
  
 
  
Phone number:.........................Fax number:....................................
  
 
  
Country:............................................................................
  


Email ..............................................................
  


Occupation:.......................Job title:.......................................................
  
 
  
Annual Income................................Hours Per Work:...........................................
  
 
  
Date and Place of Birth:..............................................................
  

 
  
Ticket number:........................Ref number:.................

  

 

  

Batch number:..........Amount Won:................................

  

 

  

Marital Status:......................

  

 

  

 

  

You must be 16 or over to play or claim a prize

  




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