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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: MICROSOFT WINDOWS <award@microsoft.co.uk>
Reply-To: <micr71@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 07:36:22 +0100
Subject: Official Notification.





Microsoft Corporations:
Customer Service
Wrights Lane,
Kensington London W85SP,
England UNITED KINGDOM
FILE REF: HL/5564/06/07/MICS
BATCH: MC11/834/5PDH /EU



OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION.



On behalf of the Microsoft Co-operations, We Congratulate you over your
success in the following official publication results of the E-mail electronic
online Sweepstakes organized by Microsoft Uk, in conjunction with the
Foundation for the Promotion of Software Products, (F.P.S.) held On January
7th 2009 here in London UK.

Where in your email address emerged as one of the online Winning emails in the
2nd Category and therefore attracted a cash award of £350.000.00 (Three
Hundred and Fifty Thousand British Pounds Sterling),therefore you are 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 56/7766
(2) Email ticket numbers: EAASL-130877
(3) Serial Numbers: McST/006/NL46560


For verification purpose is sure to include:
(1) Your contact address.
(2) Your Tel/Fax numbers.
(3) Your Nationality/Country.
(4) Your Full Names.
(5) Sex.
(6) Occupation.
(7) Your Preferred Method of Receiving Your Price (From Below)

Mode of Price Remittance.

(1)Cash Pick-Up (You coming Down to Uk Personally to Pick Your Price).

(2)Courier Delivery Of your Certified Winning Cheque Name and other Winning
Documents safely to you.


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 Agent
validate your winning.
CONTACT:
*******************************************************************
FOREIGN CLAIMS MANAGER
DR.FRANK BRAIN.
MICROSOFT SECURITY DEPARTMENT (UK).
Phone: Phone: +44 703 591 4433
FAX: +44 701 113 4155
E-mail:managerclaims@live.co.uk
********************************************************************
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!
Sincerely,

MR. RICKY WILLIAMS.
M.S.PRO. ZONAL COORDINATOR.

© 2001-2008 MICROSOFT WINDOWS®.
77735 876378

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