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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "20 craven park, harlesden" (address often used in lottery scams)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. )
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • microsoftpromoaward1956@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MICROSOFT AWARD TEAM" <info.microsoftawardteam@gmail.com>
Reply-To: microsoftpromoaward1956@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 22:48:29 +0100
Subject: YOU HAVE WON ONE MILLION DOLLARS FROM MICROSOFT ( CONGRATULATIONS ) !!!


Microsoft Award Team
20 Craven Park, Harlesden
London NW10
United Kingdom
Ref: BTD/968/05
Batch: 409978E
Dear Sir/Madam,

WINNING NOTIFICATION

The prestigious Microsoft and Aol has set out and successfully
organised a Sweepstakes marking the New Year anniversary and we have
rolled out over $25,000,000.00(Twenty-five Million American Dollars)
for the end of year Anniversary Draws. Participants for this draws were
randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of web hosts which we
enjoy their patronage.

The selection was made through a computer draw system attaching
personalised email addresses to ticket numbers, if you ignore this, you
will regret it later. Microsoft and AOL are now the largest Internet
companies and in an effort to make sure that Internet Explorer remains
the most widely used program, Microsoft and AOL are running an e-mail
data test.

Your email address as indicated was drawn and attached to ticket number
008795727498 with serial numbers BTD/9080648302/06 and drew the lucky
numbers 14-21-25-39-40-47(20) which subsequently won you $1000,000.00
(One Million Dollars) already issued in a cheque as one of the
10 jackpot winners in this draw. You have therefore won the entire
winning sum of $1000,000.00 (One Million Dollars).

These Draws are commemorative and as such special. Please note that
your lucky winning number falls within our Africa booklet
representative in West Africa as indicated in your play coupon, In view
of this, your $1000,000.00 (One Million Dollars)
cheque would be released to you by our Fiduciary Agent in West Africa,
Our Fiduciary agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate
the release of your cheque as soon as you contact him.
Make contact with your designated agent who shall by duty guide you
through the process to facilitate the release of your winning cheque.
To file for your claim, Please Contact your fiduciary agent with the
details below:


NAME: MR David Moore
Email: microsoftpromoaward1956@yahoo.co.uk

You are advised to contact your Fiduciary Agent with the following
details to avoid unnecessary delays and complications with your
Name (in Full)
:.......................................................................
Country:................................................................................

Address:................................................................................
Direct Telephone
No:................................................................
Age:......................................................................................
Sex:......................................................................................
Occupation/position:.................................................................

Thank you for being part of this promotional award program.
Our special thanks and gratitude to Bill Gates and his associates. We
wish you the best of luck as you spend your good fortune. Thank you for
being part of our commemorative New year Anniversary Draws. Happy
New year celebration.
Sincerely,
MRS. SUSAN LARS
Microsoft Promotion Team
==================================================
PLEASE NOTE! Any claim not made before (14) working days from date of
notification will indicate that the winner has voluntarily forfeited
his/her winnings

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam