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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 Windows Mega =?iso-8859-1?Q?Jackpot=AE?= <Microsoft@awardwinner.co.uk>
Reply-To: authorizedclaimkwright@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:45:43 +0800 (HKT)
Subject: WINNING NOTIFCATION OF =?iso-8859-1?Q?=A3_5=2C500=2C000.00!!?=

Microsoft Windows Corporation.
100 Victoria Street London
SW1E 5JL Great Britain
Microsoft Management Board
E-mail: authorizedclaimkwright@hotmail.com
Tel : +44-704-576-2250
Fax: (00944) 870 9503 299

Attention: Microsoft Windows E-mail Award Winner,

For the Last time, we are pleased to remind you of the Microsoft Windows Mega
Jackpot (E-MAIL) Sweepstakes result. Please; confirm if you received our
previous message with;

E-ticket number: 98005043266 098,
Category: 1st,
Draw: 6756,
Match: 5 plus bonus
Amount: £ 5,500,000.00

You may reply this mail with this information's: Name:, Address:, Phone:, Cell
Phone:, Email:, Alternative Email:, Occupation:, and Position for
reconfirmation. It is 14 days to claims deadline, so take note.

Best Regards,
Mr. Ken Wright
E-mail: authorizedclaimkwright@hotmail.com
Tel: +44-704-576-2250
Microsoft Management Board, Copyright©1991-2010
==========================================================================================================================================================
Your privacy is important to the Microsoft Windows Mega Jackpot®. Employees of
the Microsoft Windows Mega Jackpot® are prohibited from disclosing any
information you provide, except as provided by law. No personally identifying
information (such as your name, address or phone number) will ever be captured
by visiting our Web pages, unless you voluntarily choose to provide it. The
National Association of State and Provincial Lotteries recently alerted the
Microsoft Windows Mega Jackpot® and every other online Security organizations to
get clearance number before having any online promotions or Awards, as there are
too many scams going on online. So if by chance you received or you have
received any mail of such do not be reluctant to ask for their Clearance number,
they are always 14 digits numerical numbers take note. Our clearance number is
the E-ticket number: 98005043266 098.
==========================================================================================================================================================

Anti-fraud resources: