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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: "Microword Corporations" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <infomircoword@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 21:47:22 -0800
Subject: To begin your claim

MICROWORD CORPORATIONS,
CUSTOMER SERVICE:
MADRID SPAIN/ESPANA.
APARTADO DE CORREOS
48, 28230 las Rozas,

Reference No: Msft-2009-X74-RS
Batch No: Msft-2009- GM-0221

Official Winning Notification.

Welcome to Microword Corporation new year promotions, We are pleased to
inform you of the released results of Sweepstakes Promotion organized
by Microword Corporations, in conjunction with the foundation for the
Promotion of software products, 2nd Dece 2009 Madrid-Spain.

Your email address emerged as one of the on-line Winning emails, in the
1st category and therefore You have been approved for a cash award
500,000.00Euros (Five Hundred Thousand Euros) a total cash prize of Five
Million Euros Shared among the ten International winners.

To begin your claim, do file for the release of your winning by contacting
our accredited agent: Foreign Transfer Manager:
Mr. Alex Pedro.
Email: infomircoword@aol.com

Note: This Email Lottery is sponsored by Microword Corporation, and all
the members of Spanish Msft Word Resource Consortium Software Promotion
Companies.

All winnings must be claim not later than 14-12-09 after this date funds
might be returned back to Microword Resource Madrid, This internet E-mail
draw is held periodically.

And is organized to encourage the use of internet users, And to promote
computer literacy worldwide.

Congratulations!!!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Roselyn Gomes.
Promotions Manager.

Anti-fraud resources: