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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: Winning Notice <ssusan@smithssusan4.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 16:21:08 +0100 (CET)
Subject: MICROSOFT PROMOTION!!! YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS HAS WON $ 1,000,000.00
USD.


MICROSOFT PROMOTION!!! YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS HAS WON $ 1,000,000.00 USD.
CONTACT OUR CLAIMS OFFICE AT: micropromo001@aol.co.uk

FROM THE DESK OF THE COORDINATOR [MICROSOFT GLOBAL EMAIL LOTTERY]
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
Ref. Number: 132/756/40027
Batch Number: 538901527-BC722

Dear lucky winner,
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Our Global Email Lottery program held on the 27th October, 2006.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 37511465899-6410 with serial number 4872-510 drew lucky numbers 7-14-88-23-3545 which consequently won in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for the sum of $ 1,000, 000.00 USD (One Million United States Dollars).

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
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 over 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email addresses from across the Globe as part of our International Promotions Program. This program takes place every three years. We hope with part of your winning you will take part in our next USD 50 million international lottery.
To file for your claim, please contact our claims office:
=====================================
DR. KEVIN GREEN (MICROSOFT CLAIMS OFFICE)
32 Palmstraat, Amsterdam-Netherlands.
Tel: (31) 644-789-007
FAX. (31) 847-506-277
E-Mail: micropromo001@aol.co.uk
E-Mail: microclaims2006@aim.com
=====================================
Note: For easy reference and identification, find below your reference and Batch numbers. Remember to quote these numbers in every one of your correspondence with your claims office, also indicate your country and city.
Ref. Number: 132/756/40027
Batch Number: 538901527-BC722
Congratulations once more from our members of staff, and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Susan Smith
Lottery Coordinator.


Sponsored and promoted by our CEO/Chairman, Bill Gates: http://www.templetons.com/brad/billmap.gif
***************************************************************************
This e-mail is confidential and privileged. Please do not copy, disclose or distribute information in this e-mail: to do so is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are under the age of 18 kindly inform our claim office that this message has gone astray before deleting it. Thank you for your co-operation.
***************************************************************************
Copyright © 2006 microsoft Corp.


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