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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: "British Microsoft Award" <winning@microsoft.blogostrefa.org>
Reply-To: a.w.george@microsoft.blogostrefa.org
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:32:10 +0100 (WAT)
Subject: YOUR EMAIL WON THE MICROSOFT AWARD DRAW 2011




British Microsoft Award
Headquarters: Customer service
68 Newman Street City,
London W1T 3EF
United Kingdom.

Batch Number: YPB/08/APA-43658
Reference Number: YPN560992008
Award File Security code: UK/+ QU34005

BRITISH MICROSOFT AWARD DRAW 2011.

We wish to congratulate you with regards to your email success in our
computer balloting sweepstake 2011. This is a millennium random
computer lottery in which email addresses were used. It is a promotional
program aimed at encouraging internet users, therefore you do not need to
buy a ticket to enter for it.

Your email address attached to Ticket Star Number 454070 with serial
number 516220-088 drew the BRITISH MICROSOFT lucky numbers 3-18-40-40-76
which consequently won the draw in the Second category. You have been
approved for the star prize of (GBP£1,000,000.00) ONE MILLION BRITISH
POUNDS STERLING.

CONGRATULATIONS !!!

You are advised to keep this winning confidential until you receive your
lump prize in your account or optional payment to you. This is a
protective measure to avoid double claiming by people you may reveal your
winning to, as we have had cases like this before. Please send your Full
Name, Home and Office Tel & Fax Numbers, Mobile Tel Number and your Winning
Ticket Number, Reference Numbers and Amount won, to enable us process your
winning fund through our registered Fiduciary Agent or through our Agent
in your region:

Microsoft & Yahoo Fiduciary Agent
DR. JOHN WINTERS
Tel: +44 7045769392
Fax: +44 7043061934
E-mail: johnwinters@representative.com

Be informed that the appointed agent will be required to swear an
affidavit of Lotto Claim and be advised that all winning must be claimed
not later than 30 DAYS from the date of notification. In order to avoid
delay, please remember to quote your Reference Number and Batch Number in
all correspondence and should there be any change of address, please do
not hesitate to inform our agent as soon as possible.

We shall send to you the Official Award Winning Notification which you
will forward to the Fiduciary Agent via the above mentioned E-mail and
Fax Number as soon as we recieve your confirmation of this E-mail.

Once again congratulations.

Dr. A. W. George
Lottery Board Director
Head Office U.K
***********************************************************************

N:B: You are advised to keep your winning strictly confidential until your
winning is processed and received by you. This is to avoid double claiming
which could lead to disqualification.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Copyright (c) 1995-2011 The British Microsoft Lottery Inc. All rights
reserved. Terms of Service - Guideline.

Anti-fraud resources: