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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 Lottery <microsoftword@atmail.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2006 22:59:52 +0100
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION


FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT
MICROSOFT LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS PRIZE AWARD
REF Nº: MIC25993189SP06
BATCH Nº:1007581900

ATTN WINNER,

We wish to congratulate you over your success in our
MICROSOFT LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL WORLD GAMING BOARD
computer balloting Sweep stake held on the 31Th AUGUST
2006. This is a Millennium scientific computer games
lottery in which email addresses were used. It is a
promotional program aimed at encouraging Internet
users; therefore you do not need to buy ticket to
enter for this draws.

Your email address name attached to a ticket number
042091890 with serial number 6132306 drew the lucky
Numbers 01148814577 which consequently won the lottery
in the 1st category. You have therefore been approved
for a lump sum payout of FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND EUROS ONLY
(550,000.00 Euros) this is from total prize money of
1,000,000.00 Euros distributed to winners from 1st to
3rd and consolation awards categories.

CONGRATULATIONS:
Your fund is now deposited with our correspondence
Bank. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask
that you keep your winning information confidential
until your claims has been processed and your money
Remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol
to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this
program by some participants. All participants were
selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
Microsoft users from over 20,000 company, and
3,000,000 individual email addresses and names from
all over the world. this promotional program takes
place every three years.

To begin your claim please contact your claim agent
Mr. Marvin Davis. For processing and remittance of
your prize fund into your designated bank account.

LIBERTY SEGUROS COMPANY
MADRID SPAIN
Contact person: Mr. Marvin Davis
(Legal Department Officer)
Email: libertysegu@aim.com

Note: All prize funds must be claimed before the 30Th
of SEPTEMBER 2006 after this date all funds will be
returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA as
unclaimed. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications, please endeavor to quote your reference
and batch numbers in every correspondence with us to
your claim agent. Furthermore, should there be any
change in your address do inform your claim agent as
soon as possible. Congratulation once again from all
members of our staff and thank you for being part of
our promotion program.

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs. Cynthia Lopez
Vice President,
MICROSOFT LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL

NOTE; ONLY REPLY TO YOUR CLAIMS COORDINATOR TO CLAIM
YOUR CASH PRIZE.

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