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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 END OF YEAR AWARD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <msnagent_williamskelvin@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 18 Dec 2010 16:16:12 -0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS! YOU JUST WON £1,000,000.00

MSN
Microsoft Award Team
20 Craven Park, Harlesden
London NW10
United Kingdom
Ref: BTD/969/010
Batch: 59978ED
Attention!
 
                 WINNING NOTIFICATION
 
The prestigious Microsoft has set out and successfully organise a Sweepstakes marking the end of the year 2010 anniversary. We rolled out over ?1,000,000.00 (One million Great Britain Pounds) for our end of the year Anniversary Draws. Participants for the draws were randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of web hosts which we enjoy their patronage.
The selection was made through a computer draw system attaching personalised email addresses to ticket numbers. If you ignore this, you will regret it later. Microsoft is now the largest Internet companies and in an effort to make sure that Internet Explorer remains the most widely used program, Microsoft is running an e-mail beta test.
Your email address as indicated was drawn and attached to ticket number 008795727498 with serial numbers BTD/9080648302/06 and drew the lucky numbers 14-21-25-39-40-47(20) which subsequently won you ?1,000,000.00 (One Million Great Britain Pounds)  as one of the 10 jackpot winners in this draw. You have therefore won the entire winning sum of ?1,000,000.00 (One Million Great Britain Pounds). The draws registered as Draw number one was conducted in Brockley, London United Kingdom on the 10TH December 2010. These Draws are commemorative and as such special.
Please be informed by this winning notification, to file your claims. You are to make contact with your designated agent who shall guide you through the process to facilitate the release of your prize. To file for your claim Please Contact your fiduciary agent
 
Mr. Book Cletus
Microsoft Promotion Award Team
Email: msnagent_williamskelvin@yahoo.co.uk
 
You are advised to contact your fiduciary agent with the following details to avoid unnecessary delays and complications:
 
Your Full Names
Country
Ticket Numbers
Batch Number
Serial Number
Lucky Numbers
 
As indicated in this winning Notification and Phone numbers. Thank you for being part of this promotional award program.
Our special thanks and gratitude to Bill Gate and his associates. We wish you the best of luck as you spend your good fortune. Thank you for being part of our commemorative end of the year Anniversary Draws.
Sincerely,
 
Dr. Bryan McDonald
Microsoft Promotion Team.
TEL :( +447)045-752-596
TEL :( +447)045-758-261
 

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