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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 EMAIL LOTTERY INC <claims_department_01@live.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 04:15:15 -0800
Subject:




FROM: THE DESK OF THE FINANCIAL CONTROLLER ,
LOTTERY DEPARTMENT,
MICROSOFT CORPORATION UNITED KINGDOM.
19 North Bridge Edinburgh
EH1 1SD United Kingdom.
Tel: +447011148929,



Dear Lucky Winner No 5.

Congratulations! as you have been given an oppurtunity to fill this verification form of payment and return to us for verification purposes.


We are delighted to give you a brief explanation or information about MS-WORD lotto lottery. Due to the fact that you might still be confused about how you became a winner or if actually this is true. Infact, many winners have asked such questions and are cleared accordingly.

INFORMATION ABOUT MS-WORD LOTTERY
This is an organization that has been financially assisting people with it's intention to changing peoples life, so many people have benefited from it in recent past. As part of International "E-MAIL" Promotions Program, Which is conducted annually for our prominent MS -WORD users all over the world, and for the Continuer use of E-mail.

All Participant were selected through a computer balloting system drawn from Nine hundred thousand E-mail addresses, from Canada, Australia, United States, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Oceania as part of our international promotions program which is conducted annually.
This Lottery was jointly promoted and co-sponsored by a conglomerate of some multinational companies as part of their social responsibility to the citizens in the communities where they have operational base. Further more your details (e-mail address) falls within our European representative office in UNITED KINGDOM as indicated in your play coupon and your prize will be released to you from this regional branch office in UK. Therefore, fill this winner's verification form of payment and send it back to this office via e-mail:
MS-WORD LOTTERY WINNERS VERIFICATION FORM OF PAYMENT:
FILL BELOW FORM AND SEND BACK TO US FULLNAME:...................................................... BATCH NUMBER:............................................. REFERENCE NUMBER:.................................... WINNER NO:.................................................... AMOUNT WON:................................................ DATE OF BIRTH:............................................... RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:.................................. SEX:................................................... MARITAL STATUS:........................................... COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:...................................... OCCUPATION:.................................................. COMPANY
NAME:............................................ TELEPHONE:................................................... EMAIL:................................................... DATE:................................ CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN!!! WE wish you the best in life with your prize (money).


Again, remember, all funds not Claimed on or before the fixed date will be returned as Unclaimed.

Yours Sincerely,



DR. DENNIS KEITA,
MS-WORD FINANCIAL CONTROLLER.

TEL: +447011135744.
_________________________________________________________________
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