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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 Award Promotions <microaward@london.com>
Reply-To: inforstfirm@aim.com
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:26:51 -0300
Subject: MICROSOFT WINNER



Microsoft Promotion Award Team
40 Rye crofts Way Stopsley
London,
United Kingdom.

MICROSOFT WINNING NOTIFICATION.... PROMO

The prestigious Microsoft® Windows XP Corporations wishes to inform you that
your e-mail address emerged as one of their online lucky Winners selected from
our private computerized lottery drawn here in London United Kingdom and this
selection process was carried out through a random selection in our
Computerized
Email Selection System (C.E.S.S.) from a database of over a million email
addresses from the world wide web.

This promotion was set-up to encourage the active users of the Internet
Microsoft® Windows. Hence we do believe that with your winning prize, you will
continue to be active and patronage to the Microsoft® Windows XP Corporations.

Therefore you have won the sum of £500,000.00 pounds {Five Hundred Thousand
Great British Pounds}. A winning cheque will be issued in your name by the
Microsoft® Windows XP Corporation and also a certificate of prize
claims will be
sent to you along side with your winnings cheque. You are to make contact with
your designated agent who shall by duty, guide you through the process of
facilitating the release of your Prize.

For claims,you are advised to contact your designated appointed agent
(Mr.Brian
Hilton) Of RST Limited on Email:inforstfirm@aim.com ,phone
number:(+44)7031741576 with the following details below.

VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM.

(1) Your contact Address:
(2) Your Tel/Mobile Number:
(3) Your Nationality:
(4) Current Country:
(5) Your Full Names:
(6) Occupation:
(7) Date Of Birth:

Once again on behalf of all our staff and Managements we say CONGRATULATIONS!

Sincerely,

Microsoft Promotion Award Team,
United Kingdom Sub Region.

Anti-fraud resources: