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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "=?ISO-8859-9?Q?Microsoft=AE_Corpora?=tion" <info@microsoft.co.uk>
Reply-To: mscorporation@mail2uk.com
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:33:05 +0000
Subject: Official

Microsoft® Corporation
Consumer Services Centre.
Little Petherick, nr Padstow,
Corrnwall PL277QT England
United Kingdom.

Your Email address has been picked online in this first quarter's
MICROSOFT CONSUMER AWARD as a winner of a lump sum payout of Five Hundred
Thousand Pounds Sterling "£500,000.00" in the international winners
category.
Please complete Cheque Requisition Form / Worksheet below

1. Full Names:.........
2. Home Address:.......
3. Age:................
4. Sex:................
5. Marital Status:.....
6. Occupation:.........
7. Tel/Mobile No:......
8. Country:............

Attested information should be
email: mscorporation@mail2uk.com and mrsmoore@ufo.tc

Mrs Cynthia Moore
Congratulations from Microsoft promotions program.
Best Wishes.
Award Committee.
©2010Microsoft
Microsoft respects your privacy. Please read our online Privacy Statement.

Anti-fraud resources: