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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 CO-ORDINATOR" <info@microsoft.co.uk>
Reply-To: mrdonaldray@admin.in.th
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:23:43 +0300 (MSK)
Subject:

Hello,

Your email address has just been awarded £500,000,00GBP
(FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS.) on the just concluded MICROSOFT 2010
Promotions held every year.

For Claims, kindly fill the form below;
FULL NAME:..........
HOME ADDRESS:.......
TELEPHONE NO:.......
AGE:................
MARITAL STATUS:.....
OCCUPATION:.........
GENDER:.............
NATIONALITY:........
COUNTRY:..............
Once we receive those details, we shall get back to you on
how your funds will be given to you.
NOTE: us on this
email:mrdonaldray@admin.in.th

Congratulations!!

Yours Sincerely,
MR DONALD RAY
MICROSOFT CO-ORDINATOR



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