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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: <info@webmix09.org.uk>
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:02:55 +0000
Subject: =?utf-8?q?YOU=20HAVE=20WON=20=24500=2c000=2e00=20CONGRATULATIONS=20FROM=20MICROSOFT?=

CONGRATULATION This is to inform you that your email has won a
consulation
prize of the Microsoft Corporation EMAIL DRAW held on 14th December
2009.
Your email has won $500,000.00 (US Dollars). Please note that your
lucky
winning number falls within our Africa booklet representative in West
Africa as indicated in your play coupon, In view of this, your
$500,000.00
(Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) cheque would be released
to
you by our Fiduciary Agent in West Africa.
Please fill the verfication form below and send it with your (Ref#:
BTD/610/08),and (Batch #:742701AE) to your claims agent.
PAYMENT RELEASE ORDER FORM:
Full Names___________________
Gender_______________________
Age__________________________
Contact Address______________
Occupation___________________
Country______________________
Nationality________________
Telephone numbers____________
Batch________________________
Reference____________________

Microsoft Fudiciary Agent: David Moore Via E-mail:
davidmoore105@live.co.uk
Congratulations from the entire member of the Microsoft Promotion
Award
team.
Sincerely,
Susan Lars
Head Customer care Service
Microsoft Promotion Team.

Anti-fraud resources: