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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 TEAM" <info@msn.co.uk>
Reply-To: microsftconsultant@admin.in.th
Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:12:53 +0200
Subject: Your Email Won!


Microsoft Award Team Promotion 2010
Barley House Harold Road
Sutton,Greater London Sm1 4te
United Kingdom.

your mail was selected in this month lottery
through computer draw,with ticket number:748
which won you £500,000 Great British Pounds.
Please contact Mr Fredrick Vanhs via email
herein{microsftconsultant@admin.in.th}for
more details.

Congratulations!! Once again.
Yours faithfully,
Microsoft Award Team


Anti-fraud resources: