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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: "ONLINE LOTTERY WINNER" <fiddaviaz@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 19:18:11 +0100
Subject: MICROSOFT AWARD NOTIFICATION


*MICROSOFT (r) MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERY MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE
AWARD DEPARTMENT MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERY, *
*UNITED KINGDOM .
*
*89 New Fetter Lane London , EC4A 1AG U.K *
*SIR. JIM KLOSE
PHONE NUMBER: +447024073953 *
*REFERENCE NUMBER: MSW/56B-672GH/L
BATCH NUMBER: 4583JL/WIN
SERIAL NUMBER: SSN/MSLTT/009883 *
**
*MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERY PROMOTIONS, EMAIL AWARD PROMO: UNITED
KINGDOM *
**
*Finally today, we announce the winners of the MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO
WINNINGS PROGRAMS held on 1st July 2006. Your company or your personal
e-mail address, attached to winning number 23-76-06-54-42-08, with Serial
Number: SSN/MSLTT/009883, consequently won in the Tenth lottery category. *
**
*You are therefore been approved for lump sums pay out of GBP
1,500,000.00POUNDS ($2,763,678 USD) in cash Credited to file REF NO:
MSW/56B-672GH/L and
winning number 23-76-06-54-42-08, this is from total prize money of GBP
37,500,000.00 POUNDS, shared among theTwenty five (25) international winners
in this category. *
**
*All participants were selected through our Microsoft computer ballot system
drawn form 42,000 Names, 6,000 names from each continent, as
part of International "E-MAIL" Promotions Program, for our prominent MS
WORD user all over the world, and for the Continuous use of E-mail. Your
fund (certified cheque) has been insured with your REF NO:
MSW/0277-6355/GH/L and winning number 23-76-06-54-42-08.
To claim your winning prize, you must first contact the claims department by
email for Processing and remittance of your prize money to you. The claims
processor is:
=====================================
Name: Mr.Dominic Alan
E-mail: **dominic_alan@yahoo.com.mx* <dominic_alan@yahoo.com.mx>*
Telephone: +447040122679
=====================================
Do email the above email addresses, all at once. In order to avoid
unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your
reference and winning numbers in all correspondences with your claims
officer.
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU ARE TO SEND THE BELOW INFORMATIONS REQUIRED TO CLAIM
YOUR WINNING PRIZE: *
**
*1. Full Name:...........................................................
*
*2. Address:...........................................................
*
*3.Nationality:...................................................
*
*4. Age: ....................... Date of Birth:

* *5. Occupation: ......................................................
*
*6. Phone: ...........Fax: ................................................
*
**
*7. State of Origin : ......Country: ................... *
**
*8: DELIVERY OPTIONS:........................................ *
*Upon receipt of the duly requested data, I will send you the contact
information of the payment office so you can proceed with effecting the
release of your claim in anyway you deem fit, submit back immediately *

*DELIVERY OPTIONS: *
*(1) BANK SWIFT WIRE TRANSFER *
*(2) COME TO OUR OFFSHORE PAYMENT CENTER IN UK *
*(3) BY OUR COURIER FIRM, *
**
*Sincerely, Secretary
Mrs. Maurrine Diane H. *
**
*NOTE: Do not reply this mail. You are to contact your claims officer
immediately by email. Or call the Promotion Director SIR. JIM KLOSE on
PHONE #:+447024073953 to confirm your winnings. *

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