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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: "Ellis Stella .Mrs" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <authurgracia@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:31:29 -0700
Subject: OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION.

U.K Olympic Lottery. Microsoft Corporations. Reference No: ESP-L/L-2810. Batch No: 2012/101/MIC FINAL WINNING NOTIFICATION. Dear Winner, We are pleased to inform you of the released results of 2012 UK Olympic Lottery promotions organized by Microsoft Corporations, in conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of software products, (F.P.S.) held 2008,in United Kingdom. your email address emerged as one of the lucky seven online Winning e-mails in the 2nd category and therefore attracted a cash award of $1,000.000 USD (ONE MILLION United States Dollars) and a Dell Lap-top. To begin your claims,Please file for the prompt release of your winnings by contacting our Foreign Transfer Monitor with your PERSONAL DETAILS :Fill the form attached:Compulsory. NAME: ADDRESS: PHONE NO: OCCUPATION: AGE: SEX: COUNTRY: Contact thus: FINANCIAL DIRECTOR MEGAFINANCE & SECURITIES UK LTD . AUTHUR GRACIA Email: authurgracia@yahoo.com Lottery Awards is sponsored by the former C.E.O. Bill Gates, and a consortium of software promotions companies. 1.The Intel Group,Toshiba, 2.Dell Computers and other International Companies organized to encourage the use of Internet and promote computer literacy worldwide. Congratulations once again!! Sincerely Ellis Stella.Mrs Zonal cordinator. Notice :This email is meant for only the intended recipient of these transmission, and a communication privileged by law, subject to restrictions or otherwise contains proprietary information. If you receive this email by mistake, please notify us immediately .do not review, disclose, copy or distribute it. Thank you in advance for your cooperation , Microsoft Corporations.

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