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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: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:38:46 -1200
Subject: Microsoft=?ISO-8859-1?B?rg==?= Award Team/Claims Office

Microsoft® Award Team/Claims Office
Microsoft Corporation
#1 Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052.
**********************

Dear lucky winner,

This is to inform you that your email has won a consulation prize of
the Microsoft Corporation EMAIL DRAW Today. Your
email has won you £1,000.000.00 (One Million Great british Pounds)
To claim your prize, please contact your fiduciary agent
Mrs. Audrey Peterson with your Batch #:409978E and Reference No:FL/668530092 and contact
her via email immediately within 24hrs.

with the information below.
Mrs. Audrey Peterson Microsoft Promotion Award Team
Head Winning Claims Dept.
Email:mrs_audrey@yahoo.cn
===========================================================
CERTIFICATE OF PRIZE CLAIM(Receipt Official Notification Letter)
===========================================================
1.Full Name:..............
2.Marital Status:..................
3.Occupation :..............`
4.Age:..............
5.Sex:.................
6.Nationality:...........
7.Tel:..............

Our special thanks and gratitude to Bill Gates and his associates.We
wish you the best of luck.Thank you for being part of our promotional
award program and commemorative Anniversary Draws.

Sincerely,
Mrs Audrey Peterson
Head Customercare Service
Microsoft Promotion

Anti-fraud resources: