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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: "YAHOO!-MICROSOFT FINANCIAL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <yservice39@ymail.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Jul 2011 02:30:19 -0700
Subject: Youe Email Have Won

YAHOO!-MICROSOFT FINANCIAL
PROMOTIONS DEPARTMENT UK.
REF:MICRO-YAHOO7/315116127/27
BATCH No:15/623/UK.
Registered Lottery No: 220949.





We hereby announce the official notification of the results of the Yahoo!-Microsoft Financial Promotions held this Month in which your e-mail address emerged winner.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 883734657492-5319 with serial number 7263-267, batch number 8254297137,lottery ref number 7336065782 and drew lucky numbers 14-22-28-37-40-44 which consequently won you the cash prize in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of £1,000,000.00 (i.e One Million United Kingdom Pounds).Please note that this Promotional Program tagged "Thanks for contributing to our financial Success" was sponsored and organized by the Yahoo! Microsoft Corporation in view of the Financial benefits YAHOO! have received from its numerous customers either through adverts, hosting and personal emails.


The reason this lottery was organized is to thank the numerous public including users and non-users of YAHOO! MAIL for the financial benefits THE YAHOO! MICROSOFT CORPORATION have received as a result of their Patronage last Year.This Lottery is approved and licensed by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). This lottery is the first of its kind organized by YAHOO! MICROSOFT In view of this, your One Million United Kingdom Pounds (£1,000,000.00) would be released to you by the claims office here in UK. The reason this lottery was organized is to thank the numerous public including users and non-users of YAHOO! MAIL for the financial benefits THE MICROSOFT-YAHOO! CORPORATION have received as a
result of their Patronage last Year.


For processing and remittance of your winnings, Beneficiaries who have previously received this notification letter are advised to once again contact their assigned Remittance Director with his new email address below;


Contact Info:
Mr.James Lamb
Yahoo Office
Remittance Director
Yahoo!-Microsoft Promotions Unit.
44 Moor fields London EC2Y 9AL UNITED KINGDOM
Email: yservice39@ymail.com


APPLICATION FOR PRIZE CLAIM
(Receipt Official Notification Letter)


FULL NAMES................................
CONTACT ADDRESS......................
COUNTRY....................................
SEX:...........................................
AGE............................................
MARITAL STATUS.........................
OCCUPATION..............................
NATIONALITY.............................
TELEPHONE NUMBER....................
HAVE YOU A PASSPORT OR LICENSE(Proof Of Identity):
BATCH NUMBER. ........................
REFERENCE NUMBER...................


Once Again Thanks For Contributing To Our Financial Success!!!

Yours Sincerely,
Steve Ballmer
Chief Executive Officer
Yahoo!-Microsoft Corporation

Anti-fraud resources: