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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: "Lottery Microsoft" <microsoft_lottery10@yamal.biz>
Reply-To: benmoris1@gala.net
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:26:43 -0700
Subject: Microsoft Award With Reference Numbers: HL/8121/31/11/MICS


*FROM THE DESK OF THE MICROSOFT *
*{MICROSOFT GLOBAL E-MAIL LOTTERY}
INTERNATIONAL PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
LONDON,NW10,ENGLAND,UNITED KINGDOM
FILE REF:HL/8121/31/11/MICS
BATCH: MC44/707/3PDH /EU*
**
* * * *
*OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION:*

*ATTENTION LUCKY WINNER:*
**
*It is obvious that this notification will come to you as a surprise but
please find time to read it **carefully as we congratulate 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 7th of
* *July 2008,in United kingdom.*
**
*Wherein your electronic email address emerged as one of the online *
** *winning emails in the 1st category and therefore attracted a cash award
of Dollars$1, 000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars only) which your
file falls in our South African Claim office in Johannesburg*
**
*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 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*
** *{5} Serial Numbers:McST/030/NL0981*
** **
** *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)Your Occupation.*
*(6) Your Age.*
**
** *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 particulars
of your award in every correspondence to enable the Agentin South Africa
validate your winning
*
** *CONTACT:
*********************************************************************
**FOREIGN TRANSFER MANAGER
NAME MR.Ben Morris*
*MICROSOFT SECURITY DEPARTMENT(RSA)
TEL:+27 737620702
**E-mail:**benmoris1@gala.net*
*********************************************************************
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 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.J.T Smith
MICROSOFT E-MAIL LOTTERY PROMOTION COORDINATOR.
*

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