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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: "=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Microsoft=20Promotion=20Award=20Team=AE?=" <info@winner.co.uk>
Reply-To: msoftedition2@hawamail.com
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 05:22:09 -0300
Subject: ***PAYMENT OF PRIZE AND CLAIM***

Yahoo/Msn Lottery Incorporation
10 Bina Gardens,South Kensington,
London.United Kingdom.

Dear Winner's

This is to inform you that you have won a prize of £1,000,000.00 GBP
{One Million Great Britain Pounds} for the month of February 2011.
YAHOO&MSN MICROSOFT WINDOWS.

***PAYMENT OF PRIZE AND CLAIM***

You are to fill the below information..

CLAIMS REQUIREMENT
FULL NAME:.......................
AGE/SEX:.........................
HOME ADDRESS.....................
COUNTRY/STATE:...................
NATIONALITY......................
PHONE MOBILE:.....................
OCCUPATION:......................

You are requested to contact EVENTS MANAGER,
Mr.Thomas Lampard
Microsoft Promotion Award Team®
Phone: +44703-187- 3827
EMAIL: msoftedition@hawamail.com

Yours Faithfully,
Mrs Tessy Castrol
Head Of Council
Verifications Dept.

Anti-fraud resources: