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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® and Hewlett-Packard." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.bradleycole@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:46:21 +0100
Subject: Microsoft® and Hewlett-Packard.

Microsoft® andHewlett-Packard.
88 wood street,
BracknellBerkshire,
Registered Number:690597England,
London,
United Kingdom.
Microsoft® and Hewlett-Packard Winning Notification Promotion.
The prestigious Microsoft® and Hewlett-Packard has set out and successfully organized a Sweepstakes marking the New Year 2009 anniversary we Rolled out over 450,000.00 GBP (Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Great British Pounds) for our New Year Anniversary Draws. Participants For the draws were randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of Web hosts which we enjoy their patronage.
 
The selection was made through a computer draw system attaching personalized email addresses to ticket numbers. If you ignore this, you will regret it later. Microsoft® And Hewlett-Packard are now the largest wireless Internet companies and in an effort to make sure that Internet Explorer remains the most widely used program, Microsoft® And Hewlett-Packard are running End-to-end Support Services for Wireless Internet.
Your email address as indicated was drawn and attached to ticket Number/Batch0087955827499 with serial numbers MSC/HP/0080668302/07 and drew The lucky numbers 14-21-30-39-40-47(31) which subsequently won you 450,000.00 (Four Hundred And Fifty Thousand Great British Pounds) as One of the 10 jackpot winners in this draw. You have therefore won the Entire winning sum of 450,000.00 (Four Hundred And Fifty Thousand Great British Pounds). The draws registered as Draw number one was conducted in Bracknell Berkshire, London United Kingdom this Month 2009.
These Draws are commemorative and as such special.
Please be informed by this winning notification, to file your claims, you are to make contact with your designated agent who shall by duty Guide you through the process to facilitate the release of your prize. To file for your claim Please Contact your fiduciary agent
MR BRADLEY COLE.
Microsoft® and Hewlett-Packard
Email: mr.bradleycole@hotmail.co.uk
 
You are advised to contact your fiduciary agent with the following Details to avoid unnecessary delays and complications:
Ticket Number/Batch0087955827499.
Serial Numbers MSC/HP/0080668302/07.
Secret Pin Numbers {MSN/HP/ 1469}.
1. Your Full Names:
2. Address & Country:
3. Batch Number:
4. Phone & fax:
5. Age & Marital Status:
6. Occupation & company name:
7. How do you feel as a Winner?
NOTE: Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocols to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.
Once again thank you for being part of our commemorative new year resolution Anniversary Draws. Once again Congratulations from the Staffs & Members of the interactive Lotteries Board Commission;
Sincerely,
 
Microsoft® and Hewlett-Packard Award Team.
 

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