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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 TEAM LOTTERY <msoft013@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <claim_department1980@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2007 14:09:17 +0000
Subject: Congratulations!!! Winning Notification.



Microsoft Award Team20 Craven Park,Harlesden LondonNW10 United KingdomRef: BTD/968/05Batch: 409978E

Dear Winner,

WINNING NOTIFICATION The prestigious Microsoft and Aol has set out and successfully organised a Sweepstakes marking the end of year anniversary and we have rolled out over 25,000,000.00(Twenty-five Million EURO) 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 08795727498 with serial numbers BTD/
9080648302/06 and drew the lucky numbers 14-21-25-39-40-47(20) which subsequently won you 1,500,000.00
(One Million Five Hundred Thousand EURO Only) already issued in a cheque as one of the 10 jackpot winners in this draw. You have therefore won the entire winning sum of 1,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand EURO Only) The draws registered as Draw number one was conducted in Brockley, London United Kingdom . These Draws are commemorative and as such special. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this,you have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of 1,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand EURO Only) This sum will be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe. Our payment officer here in UK will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact them. Make contact with your designated agent who shall by duty guide you through the process to facilitate the release of your winning money. To file for your claim, Please Contact your Payment Officer with the details below: Claims AgentVan DirkTel +44 701 114 8836Fax:44-871-247-2512Email: claimsdepartment1980@yahoo.gr 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 end of year Anniversary Draws. Happy end of year celebration. Sincerely,William HillsMicrosoft Promotion Team NB: PLEASE NOTE! Any claim not made before (14) working days from date of notification will indicate that the winner has voluntarily forfeited is/her winnings.
_________________________________________________________________
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