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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: Edlyln Albert <edlylnalb18@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 11:42:15 -0600
Subject: ELECTRONIC MAIL AWARD PROMOTION,CHIP NO: 9465206



MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERYMICROSOFT HOUSE PRESCOT, LONDON E1 8RP. UNITED KINGDOM.REF NO: M154S/WL07.MICRO (LOTTERY) CHIP NO: 9465206
ELECTRONIC MAIL AWARD PROMOTION.MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERY PROMO.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Today, we announce the 10 lucky winners of the MICROSOFT LOTTERY PROGRAM held on 31st JULY, 2007. Your company or your personal e-mail address, attached to the Chip Number: 9465206, won in the First lottery category 001. Your email address has brought you an unexpected luck, please read through this message.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of Ã?â??Ã?£1,000,000 GBP (One Million Great Britain Pounds) in cash credited to file SW/9080118308/02/LA.This is from a total cash prize of Ã?â??Ã?£10.000,000 GBP (Ten Million Great Britain Pounds) shared amongst the ten (10) lucky winners.
All participants were selected randomly from 'World Wide Web' site through Microsoft computer ballot system (MCBS) and extracted from over 100,000 individuals and companies. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and money remitted to you in the manner you deem fit to claim your prize.
This is a part of our precautionary measure to avoid unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements.
Note that all claims process and clearance procedures must be duly completed early to avoid impersonation arising to the issue of double claim, you are advised to keep this notice to yourself because we shall not be responsible for any divert of funds as a result of you disclosing your lottery award details,I hereby advice you to report to the Microsoft lottery claims agent whose information is stated below.
Contact Person: Barrister Teddy WilliamsE-mail:mr_twilliam@hotmail.com Tel.: +44 704 571 3307Tel.:+44 704 571 3460Fax : +44 33821481462
Do email or call the above mentioned person, at once with all the claims requirements below. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications.
CLAIM PROCESSING FORM1. full Name:2. Address:3. Nationality:4. Date of Birth:5. Occupation:6. Phone:7. Mobile:8. Fax:9. State of Origin:10.Country:11.Sex:12.E-mail Address:
The above requirements are needed to enable the immediate release of your won prize.
NOTE: You are to contact your claims processor immediately via email or fax. Be informed, that there will be upfront charges, either for transfer of funds to your account or activating a non residence premium account with the official paying bank. Have it in mind that this is not a Scam; we want you to understand that there will be upfront charges.

Best Regards,Mrs. Edlyn AlbertSecretary Microsoft Mega Jackpot Lottery
_________________________________________________________________
PC Magazine’s 2007 editors’ choice for best web mail—award-winning Windows Live Hotmail.
http://imagine-windowslive.com/hotmail/?locale=en-us&ocid=TXT_TAGHM_migration_HMWL_mini_pcmag_0707

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