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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447031820396 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: mark davis <markdavis_claim@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:20:49 +0100
Subject: RE: CONGRATULATION !!! MICROSOFT WINNER















Microsoft Promotiom20 Craven Park , HarlesdenLondon NW10United Kingdom

Phone Number: + 44 703 182 0396
Fax: + 44 871 263 6994

Ref: BTD/968/05Batch: 409978E


Dear Loranna Burgerzer,

I am Mr. Mark Davis , I have been assigned by Microsoft Promotion to process your payment file. I wish to congratulate you on your winnings. The winning information is on the top of this email.

Meanwhile as for now everything seem to be working in your favour, all that we require from you now, is your maximum cooperation for smooth transfer of your money through paying bank, swift transfer or courier delivery of cashier’s cheque depends on how you want it redeemed to you . You are required to fill out the claims processing form below and return to us for proper verification. You are also required to send us a scanned copy of your valid Identity (International passport or Driver’s license) via email.
MICROSOFT AWARD VERIFICATION FORM:






Name

Prefix (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., etc.):


First name:


Middle name:


Last name:


Nickname:


Maiden name:


Suffix (Sr., Jr., II, III, etc.):


Personal

Date of birth (yyyy-mm-dd):


Gender:
Male Female

Marital status:


Spouse/significant other:


Lotto Batch Number


Lotto Reference Numbers


Preferences

Preferred address for correspondence:
Home Work/business

Home address and phone

Address:


City:


State/province:


Zip/postal code:


Country:


Phone:


Fax:


Mobile/cellular:


Internet at home

E-mail:


Home page:


Employment and business

Job title:


Occupation:


Company name:


Work address:


City:


State/province:


Zip/postal code:


Country:


Phone:


Fax:


Mobile/cellular:
















Upon the receipt of the dually filled claims form, our lawyer will notify the British Gaming Board (BGB), so as to give approval to our Courier Company, the permission to make the transfer or deliver your winning cheque/winning certificate. You should send us your personal contact phone number so the courier company can contact you by phone or email.
Congratulations, once again.
Yours faithfully,Mr. Mark Davis
Dispatch Officer
Microsoft Promotion


Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and contains confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.

© 2007 Microsoft MSN Corporation. All rights reserved


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam