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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 award promo <mslaward.infodesk@bigstring.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2006 15:07:18 -0300
Subject: Do Contact Your..........Ref:BTD/968/05


MicrosoftMSN 
MICROSOFT AWARD TEAM
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052.

Ref:BTD/968/05
Batch:409978E
 
                                 PRIZE AND AWARD NOTIFICATION
 
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today of winners of the MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS held on 10TH of August 2006.Your company or your personal e-mail address, is attached to ticket number 9901-0148-790-691, with serial number 66109-17 drew the lucky numbers 990-11-815-37-10-83, and consequently won the lottery in the 2nd category.
 
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1,000,000.00 in cash credited to file Ref: BTD/968/05 This is from total prize money of US$16,000,000.00 shared among the sixteen(16)international winners in this category.All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn  form 25,000 names from Australia, New Zealand,America, Europe, North America and Asia, as part of International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.
 
Your fund has been deposited in an escrow account and insured in your name.Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your account.
 
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program. 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 via email/fax or phone for processing and remittance of your prize money to you.The claims officer contact email is:
 
Mr Cole Banks
Fiduciary Agent/Spokesperson
Microsoft Lottery Dept.
United Kingdom
 
Email:micropromo@aim.com
       :mslaward.infodesk@bigstring.com                         
Tell:+44-702-406-9513(Mon-Fridays)9:00AM-6:00PM.G.M.T
Fax:+44-871-247-3323
 
You are to forward the required details listed below to your claims officer.This would be required for processing your claims file and swift delivery of your winning funds.
 
1.Full Names...............................................
2.Sex:.....................................................
3.Date of Birth........................................
4.Contact Phone and Fax Numbers............................
5.Residential Address......................................
6.Bank Address/Bank Name...................................
7.Occupation............................................. .
8.Nationality..............................................
9.Next of Kin............................................
 
DECLARATION:
I...............................................................HEREBY
DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE DATA ARE TRUE. THAT MY CLAIMS AGENT SHALL ACT AS A FACILITATOR IN THE TRANSFER OF THE TOTAL FUND TO ME.
 
DATE........................

Endeavour to furnish your claims officer with the information listed above and also make sure that you give constant attention to your email messages so a steady correspondence could be made.
 
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all correspondences with this office.
 
Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform us as soon as possible.
Congratulations again from all our staff for being part of our promotions program.

NB:
PLEASE NOTE! Any claim not made before ten (10) working days from date
of notification  indicate that the winner has voluntarily forfeited his/her winnings.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
You must be 16 or over to play or claim a prize
--

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