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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: MARRIA TOLOTO <onlin_lot4@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <jsmithza1@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:08:01 +0000
Subject: GOOD NEWS



WINNER NO:5 OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION:

DEAR WINNER:
It is obvious that this notification will come to you as a surprise but please find time to read it carefully as we ongratulate you over your success in the following official publication of results of the E-mail electronic online Sweepstakes organized by Microsoft,in conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of software products,(F.P.S.)held on the 1st of JAN 2008,in UNITED KINGDOW .Wherein your electronic email address emerged as one of the online
winning emails in the 1st category and therefore attracted a cash award of £1,200,000.00 (One Million Two Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling Only ) Our winners are arranged into four categories with different winning prizes accordingly in each category. They are arranged in this format below:
CATEGORY NO.OF WINNERS WINNING PRIZES
1st. 2 £1,200,000.00 each
2nd. 8 £800,000.00 each
3rd. 13 £470,000.00 each
4th. 27 £170,000.00 each
We write to officially notify you of this award and to advise you to contact the processing office immediately upon receipt of this message for more information concerning the verification, processing and eventual payment of the above prize to you.
It is important to note that your award information was released with the following particulars attached to it.
(1) Award numbers: NL 56/7765(2) BATCH NO: 2005SEPTL#22(3) REFERENCE NO: MSW-L/200-26937
For verification purpose be sure to include:
(1) Your mailing address.(2) Your Tel/Fax numbers.
(3) Your Nationality/Country.
{4}Your Full Names
(5)Sex.
(6)Age.
(7)Occupation.
To file for your claim,Please contact your Validating Officer for VALIDATION of your winning within Twenty-nine working days of this winning notification. Winnings that are not validated within Twenty-nine working days of winning notification are termed void and invalid. You are required to mention the above particularsof your award in every correspondence to enable the Agent in London validate your winning
CONTACT:*******************************************************************FOREIGN TRANSFER MANAGERNAME MR JOHN SMITH
MICROSOFT SECURITY DEPARTMENT(RSA)TEL:+ 44703 187 1559
E-mail:jsmithza1@hotmail.com
********************************************************************The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by ourCEO/Chairman, Bill Gates:and a consortium of software promotion companies. The Intel Group, Toshiba, Dell Computers and other International Companies. The Microsoft internet E-mail draw is held periodically and is organized to encourage the use of the Internet and promote computer literacy worldwide.
Once again on behalf of all our staff,
CONGRATULATIONS!
Yours faithfully,
Dr.Rudolf P. Markhams MICROSOFT E-MAIL LOTTERY PROMOTION COORDINATOR.
Copyright © 1994-2007 The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards Promotion Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of Service -Guideline.

100860 8556 2548 9576UK
_________________________________________________________________
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