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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
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "microsoft lottery" (no such lottery exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million pounds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "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.
  • +447742807924
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • microsoft.internetpromo@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • jc_williams0160@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: jc_williams0160@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2008 21:35:18 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Microsoft Internet Lottery promotion


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a: microsoft.internetpromo@rocketmail.com

YOU HAVE WON

- - The Microsoft Award Team Morley House, 26-30 Holborn Viaduct,London EC1A 2BP.U.K. Batch No: 3566465021-0TA/06.Ref No: 919347/749-0Winning No: 7-28-87-65-69-73. CONGRATULATION! CONGRATULATION!! CONGRATULATION!!! Dear Lucky Winner, The prestigious Microsoft / MSN has set out and successfully organized a Sweepstakes marking the year 2008 anniversary. Rolled out over 300,000,000.00 GBP (Three Hundred Million pounds Only) for this year's Anniversary Draws. Email addresses & telephone number of participants for the draws were randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of internet web hosting which we enjoy their patronage.The MICROSOFT 2008 PROMOTIONS was held on the month of range of internet web hosting which we enjoy their patronage.The MICROSOFT 2008 PROMOTIONS was held on the month of August 2008 in Stamford Bridge Stadium, London United Kingdom .Your email address / Telephone number has therefore been approved to claim a total sum of (300,000.00 GBP) Three Hundred Thousand Pound cashier cheque with Ref No KTU/9023118308/03. To file for your claim, please contact your Claims Agent immediately through her contact information as follows:Name: Mrs Jane .C. Williams ....Email:( jc_williams0160@yahoo.com ). Telephone Number ( +447742807924 ) ....Please provide the following details to her for processing of your claim.VERIFICATION FORM.1, Names in full:2, Country of Residence: 3, Nationality: 4, Residential Address:5, Date of Birth/Age:6, Marital Status/Sex:7, Telephone /Fax No:8, Mobile No:9, Occupation:10, Company name:11, Monthly Income:12, Amount Won:13, Email address: 14, Ref No: 15, Winning No:Yours Faithfully, Mrs. Grace Sander. Mrs. Grace Sander...Online coordinator for MICROSOFT UK ON-LINE PROMOTIONS..Sweepstakes International Program. Copyright © 1994-2008 The Microsoft UK Online Lottery Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guidelines.MICROSOFT LOTTERY PROMOTION 2008.Microsoft has obtained your contact details from public internet sources. We thought that you could be attracted to be part of this promotion with our company © Copyright 2008 Microsoft Lottery promotion All Right Reserve"

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam