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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: "Rev. JAMES SMITH" <rev.jamessmith44@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 18:31:56 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CLAIM AGENT


MICROSOFT AWARD TEAM
61B Ashbourne Avenue,
London, NW11 0DT,
United Kingdom

Reference number: 700DMUK291176S
Batch number: UK065/088/XY2400
*********************************
*********************************

ATTN:Ferdinand Klinkien,
This is to inform you that we have recieved your lottery winning information in the just concluded MICROSOFT AWARD TEAM.
Congratulations, you were among the twenty international lucky winners in this category of the draws, with the following informations Rference number (700DMUK291176S) and batch number (UK065/088/XY2400) as your winning information.
I am the agent assisgned to you in the lottery promotions, and as such, my job is to ensure that your prize money is released to you.
Your prize money of 1,000,000.00 Pounds. is presently deposited with CLYDESDALE BANK PLC, here in the UNITED KINGDOM. I have just sent to them your lottery winning informations. They will be required to contact you soon.
I want you to know that for further verification, you will need to quote your ticket number and ballot number to them when you are contacted.
And you will be expected to forward every of your correnpondence with them to me for record keeping.
You are not allowed to disclose any of your winning informations, hence somebody else will file for your claim and funds will be transferred to such person, please take note!
Once again congratulations for your luck.

REV. JAMES SMITH
processing Agent incharge.
Tel:(+44)-7011140293
Email:rev.jamessmith44@yahoo.co.uk
MICROSOFT AWARD TEAM
UNITED KINGDOM



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