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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: 3 MILLION INTERNATIONAL PRIZE AWARD <remittanceunit_za@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:25:33 +0200
Subject: 3 MILLION DOLLARS PRIZE AWARD


=20
(Microsoft src=3D"http://i2.microsoft.com/h/all/i/ms=5Fmasthead=5F8x6a=5Fltr.jpg) =
(MSN src=3D"http://i2.microsoft.com/h/en-us/i/msnlogo.gif) FROM THE DESK OF =
THE MICROSOFT <=3Fxml:namespace prefix =3D o ns =3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:o=
ffice:office" /><o:p></o:p>{MICROSOFT GLOBAL E-MAIL LOTTERY}
INTERNATIONAL PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT=20
LONDON,NW10,ENGLAND,UNITED KINGDOM
FILE REF:HL/8121/31/11/MICS
BATCH: MC44/707/3PDH /EU<o:p></o:p>=09
=20
OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION:<o:p></o:p>
ATTENTION LUCKY WINNER:<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>It is obvious that this noti=
fication will come to you as a surprise but please find time to read it ca=
refully as we congratulate you over your success in the following official=
publication of results of the E-mail electronic online Sweepstakes organi=
zed by Microsoft,in conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of s=
oftware products,(F.P.S.)held on the 20th of March 2008,in United kingdom.=
<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>Wherein your electronic email address emerged as on=
e of the online <o:p></o:p>winning emails in the 1st category and therefor=
e attracted a cash award of Dollars$3, 000,000.00 (Three Million United St=
ates Dollars only) which your file falls in our South African Claim office=
in Johannesburg<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>Our winners are arranged into four =
categories with different winning prizes accordingly in each category. The=
y are arranged in this format below:<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>CATEGORY NO.OF =
WINNERS WINNING PRIZES<o:p></o:p> 1st. 2 USD$3,000,000.00 each<o:p></o:p> =
2nd. 8 USD$800,000.00 each<o:p></o:p> 3rd. 13 USD$470,000.00 each<o:p></o:=
p> 4th. 27 USD$170,000.00 each<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>We write =
to officially notify you of this award and to advise you to contact the pr=
ocessing office immediately upon receipt of this message for more informat=
ion concerning the verification, processing and eventual payment of the ab=
ove prize to you.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>It is important to note that your =
award information was released with the following particulars attached to =
it.<o:p></o:p>(1) Award numbers: NL 62/7811
(2) Email ticket numbers: NL901/33/65
(3) Batch numbers: MC44/707/3PDH /EU
(4) The file reference numbers: HL/8121/31/11/MICS<o:p></o:p>{5} Serial Nu=
mbers:McST/030/NL0981<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>For verification purpose be su=
re to include:<o:p></o:p>(1) Your mailing address.
(2) Your Tel/Fax numbers.<o:p></o:p>(3) Your Nationality/Country.<o:p></o:=
p>{4}Your Full Names<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>To file for your cl=
aim,Please contact your Validating Officer for VALIDATION of your winning =
within nine working days of this winning notification. Winnings that are n=
ot validated within nine working days of winning notification are termed v=
oid and invalid. You are required to mention the above particulars
of your award in every correspondence to enable the Agent in South Africa =
to validate your winning<o:p></o:p>CONTACT:
*******************************************************************
FOREIGN TRANSFER MANAGER
NAME MR.DAN WILLIAMSMICROSOFT SECURITY DEPARTMENT(RSA)
TEL:+27 731108227
E-mail:dan=5Fwillians2@msn.com [mailto:dan=5Fwillians2@msn.com] [mailto:receiv=
er666@gmail.com]<o:p></o:p>***********************************************=
*********************
The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by our
CEO/Chairman, Bill Gates: and a consortium of software promotion companies=
. The Intel Group, Toshiba, Dell Computers and other International Compani=
es. The Microsoft internet E-mail draw is held periodically and is organiz=
ed to encourage the use of the Internet and promote computer literacy worl=
dwide.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>Once again on behalf of all our staff,<o:p></=
o:p> <o:p></o:p>CONGRATULATIONS!<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>Yours faithfully,<o=
:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>MR.VAN FOXMICROSOFT E-MAIL LOTTERY PROMOTION COORDINA=
TOR.<o:p></o:p> (Microsoft src=3D"http://i2.microsoft.com/h/all/i/ms=5Fmasthea=
d=5F8x6a=5Fltr.jpg) (MSN src=3D"http://i2.microsoft.com/h/en-us/i/msnlogo.gif)=20


(MSN src=3D"http://i2.microsoft.com/h/en-us/i/msnlogo.gif)=09
Jeden Monat 1 hochkar=E4tiger maxdome-Blockbuster GRATIS!=20
Exklusiv f=FCr alle WEB.DE Nutzer. *http://www.blockbuster.web.de* [http://w=
ww.blockbuster.web.de]

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