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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: "Microsoft Corporations" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <coodinatorsoffice125@yahoo.com.cn>
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 06:46:24 +0800
Subject: Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards

Microsoft Corporations Stamford New Road, Altrincham Cheshire, WA14 1EP London, United Kingdom. Dear Lucky Winner, The prestigious Microsoft and AOL has set out and successfully organised a Sweepstakes marking the new year anniversary for 2010, we rolled out over ? 450,000.00 GBP (Four Houndred And Fifty Thousand Great Britain Pounds) Draws. Participants for the draws were randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of web hosts which we enjoy their patronage. Your email address as indicated was drawn and attached to ticket number 0087955827499 with serial numbers MSC/0080648302/07 and drew the lucky numbers 14-21-25-39-40-47(20) which subsequently won you ? 450,000.00 GBP (Four Houndred And Fifty Thousand Great Britain Pounds ) as one of the jackpot winners in his draw. You have therefore won the entire winning sum of ?450,000.00GBP (Four Houndred And Fifty Thousand Great Britain Pounds). These are your identification numbers:MCS/0080648302/07 CATEGORY NO.OF WINNERS WINNING PRIZES 1st. 2 ? 450,000.00 pounds each 2nd. 8 ? 350.000.00 pounds each 3rd. 13 ? 250,000.00 pounds each 4th. 27 ? 170,000.00 pounds each CLAIMS REQUIREMENTS: 1. Full names: 2. Residential address: 3. Phone number: 4. Fax number: 5 . Occupation: 6. Sex: 7. Age: 8. Nationality: 9 . Present Country: 10. Next of kin name/address: 11.How do you feel as a winner: Mode Of Price Remittance. Courier Delivery Of your Certified Winning Cheque Name and other Winning Documents safely to you. CONTACT ************************************************************************************ FOREIGN TRANSFER MANAGER Paul Smith MICROSOFT SECURITY DEPARTMENT (UK). PHONE: +447031743763 E-mail: coodinatorsoffice125@yahoo.com.cn ************************************************************************************ The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by our CEO/Chairman, Bill Gates and a consortium of software promotion companies. The Intel Group, Toshiba, Dell Computers and other International Companies. The Microsoft internet E-mail draw is held periodically and is organized to encourage the use of the Internet and promote computer literacy worldwide. Once again on behalf of all our staff, CONGRATULATIONS! Yours Sincerely, M.S.PRO. ZONAL COORDINATOR

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