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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 Notification" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs_gloria@bbs.ctex.org>
Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2011 16:26:13 +0800
Subject: You Won £1,000,000.00

Dear Lucky Winner,

We wish to inform you that you have won (One Million British Pound Sterlings)
in the Microsoft Online Email Lottery held this month of April with
Ticket Number (MSA-8795724498) and the Lucky Numbers (14-21-25-39-40-47) (20)
For claim of Prize,please forward to us 1.Name: 2.Address 3.Age: 4.Sex:
5.Phone: 6.Country:7:Ticket Number and Lucky Number Contact: Mrs Gloria
West. mrs_gloria@bbs.ctex.org

Congratulations once again.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs Gloria West.
On-line Coordinator

Anti-fraud resources: