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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Andrew=20Georgetown?= <andrewgeorgetown18@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: microsoftemailaward20082008@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:55:58 +0530 (IST)
Subject: FROM FROM MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERY 2008


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: andrewgeorgetown18@yahoo.in



- FROM FROM MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERY 2008MICROSOFT AWARD TEAM Microsoft CorporationMICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERY U.K.REF NO: MSW/56B-672GH/LBATCH: 4583JL/WINMICROSOFT EMAIL LOTTERY AWARD PROMOTION: UNITED KINGDOMFinally today, we announce the winners of the MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS held early this month 2008. Your company or your personal e-mail address, attached to winning number 23-76-06-54-42-100, with serial number 647489, consequently won in the Tenth lottery category.You have been approved for lump sums pay out of £850,000. British pound sterling in cash Credited to file REF NO: MSW/56B-672GH/L and winning number 23-76-06-54-42-100.Selection process was carried out through random selection in our computerized email selection machine (TOPAZ) from a database of over 1,000,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world.The online draws was conducted by a random selection of email addresses from an exclusive list of 29,031 E-mail addresses of individuals and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random computer search from the internet. No ticket was sold but all email addresses were assigned to different ticket numbers for representation and privacy. This is to encourage our prominent Microsoft Internet Explorer users all over the world, and for the Continues use of E-mail.Your fund (Certified Cashiers Cheque) has been insured with your REF NO:MSW/56B-672GH/L and winning number 23-76-06-54-42-100. To claim your winning prize, you must first contact the claims department by email for Processing and remittance of your prize to you.You are to reply to this In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and winning numbers in all correspondences with your claims officer. You are to keep all lotto information away from the general public especially your ticket number and ballot number.(This is important as a case of double claims will not be entertained).PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU ARE TO SEND THE BELOW INFORMATION REQUIRED TO CLAIM YOUR WINNING PRIZE:1.Full Name:..............................................................2.Address:.................................................................3.Nationality:.................................................... .........4.Age:.........................Sex....................Date of Birth:..............................5.Occupation:.............................................................6 Company name, position and address7. Are you a property owner?8.Mobile Phone:...............Home Phone,Office Phone...................Fax:.....no..................................9.State of Origin :......................Country:........................Upon the receipt of this mail kindly send the required information and call me immediately for more directives: Tel: 4470457 35768Sincerely,Dr.Andrew Georgetown Online Co-ordinatorTel: 44 70457 35768 Or TEL :+ 44 7045734830 LOTTERY SPONSOR Microsoft Corporation U.K. 2008You are advice to keep your Reference Number and your Batch Number out of Public and also your Neighborhood. In order, to avoid double claim of your prize award. Due to past experience from other winners.


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