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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 PRODUCT FOUNDATION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <davis_smith4@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:28:46 +0100
Subject: MICROSOFT PRODUCT PROMOTION

MICROSOFT® (Uk. Regional Office)
Products Promotion Division,
Microsoft Building, Wright Lane,
Kensington London W85sp.
Email: davis_smith4@msn.com,
Serial NO: MCS-26798/096
Batch: MC11/834/8PDH /EU
Your Reference No: HL/5574/4/41/07/MICS,
Dear Lucky Winner,
The prestigious Microsoft Product Award Team has set out and successfully organized a Sweepstakes marking the New Year anniversary for 2009; we rolled out over Eight Hundred And Fifty thousand Great British Pounds Sterling (£850, 000, 00) Draws. Participants for the draws were randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of web hosts which we enjoy their patronage.
Your email address as indicated was drawn and attached to Batch: MC11/834/8PDH /EU with serial numbers MCS-26798/096 and drew the lucky numbers 14-21-25-39-40-47(29) which subsequently won you Eight Hundred And Fifty thousand Great British Pounds Sterling(£850,000,00) as one of the jackpot winners in his draw. These are your Reference identification numbers: HL/5574/4/41/07/MICS
Kindly fill below Claims Requirement form for immediate Validation of your winning prize:
1. Full names:
2. Residential address:
3. Phone number:
4. Fax number:
5. Occupation:
6. Sex:
7. Age:
8. Nationality:
9. Present Country:
10. How do you feel as winner?
Mode Of Price Remittance.
Courier Delivery Of your Certified Winning Cheque and other Winning Documents Backing your prize money stating that the prize was legally obtain from  Microsoft Products Award Team safely to you.
CONTACT:
********************************************************
FOREIGN TRANSFER MANAGER
MR. DAVIS SMITH DIRK
MICROSOFT PRODUCT PROMO DEPARTMENT (UK).
Phone: +22 98 555 488
E-mail: davis_smith4@msn.com
*******************************************************
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,
Mr. DAVIS SMITH DIRK
Mic. Claims Office,
The MPA Foundation

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