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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®" <sam@ahamp.com>
Reply-To: <msoftvodept@ymail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 22:20:57 -0400
Subject: ATTENTION:MICROSOFT PRIZE WINNER

MICROSOFT CORPORATIONS LONDON
132, ST JOHN STREET,
LONDON, EC1V 4PY UNITED KINGDOM
 
 
Attn:Winner,
Award Numbers: UK/56/2012
Email Ticket Numbers: MSLP-130232
Notification Date: 24/07/2012
OFFICIAL EMAIL BONUS NOTIFICATION
It is obvious that this notification will come to you as a surprise but please find time to read it carefully as we congratulate you over your success in the following official publication of results of the E-mail electronic online Sweepstakes 2012 organized by Microsoft, in conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of software products, (F.S.P) held this 20 12,in London United Kingdom, where your email address emerged as one of the online Winning emails in the 3rd category and therefor e attracted a cash award of 450,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand pounds sterling) Our winners are arranged into four categories with different winning prizes accordingly in each category.They are arranged in this format below:
CATEGORY NO.OF WINNERS WINNING PRIZES
1st. 950.000.00 GBP
2nd. 620.000.00 GBP
3rd. 450,000.00 GBP
4th. 370,000.00 GBP
 
We write to officially notify you of this award and to advise you to contact the processing office immediately upon receipt of this message for more information concerning the verification, processing and eventual payment of the above prize to you. It is important to note that your award information was released with the following particulars attached to it.
(1) Award numbers: UK/56/2012
(2) Email ticket numbers: MSLP-130232
(3) Batch numbers: MSOFT/884/8PDH
(4) The file reference numbers: UK/54/06/07/MSOFT
(5) Serial Numbers: MC/2012/NLP46560
 
Claims Verification Requirements:
1. Full Name:_____________________
2. Address:_____________________
3. Nationality:___________Gender:________
4. Age:_________________
5. Occupation:_____________________
6. Phone:___________Fax:___________
7. Country:___________________
8. How Do You Feel as A Winner:______________
9. Ever Won an Online Lottery?:____________
 
Mode of Prize Claim:
(1) Cash Pick-Up (You coming Down to Uk Personally to Pick Your Prize).
(2) Courier Delivery Of your Certified Winning Cheque in your name and other Winning Documents safely to you.
To file for your claim, Please contact your Validating Officer for claim of your winning within Twenty-nine working days of this winning notification. Winnings that are not validated within Twenty-nine working days of winning notification are termed void as unclaimed funds will be liquidated by the Promotion Company. You are required to mention the above particulars of your award in every correspondence to enable the Agent validate your winning.
NOTE:Do not tell people about your Price Award until your money is successfully handed over to you to avoid disqualification that may arise from double claim. You may also receive similar e-mails from people portraying to be other Organizations or Microsoft Corporation. This is solely to collect your personal information from you and lay claim over your notification letter that was sent to you by us, Microsoft shall not be held responsible for any loss of fund arising from the above mentioned.
 
Microsoft Claims Administrator
Name: Dennis Peterson
Email: msoftgbedition@y7mail.com
Phone #: +44 708 646 5033
Phone #: +44 701 004 5579
Fax #: +44 701 989 5999
 
The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by our CEO/Chairman, Bill Gates and a consortium of software promotion companies like Intel Group,Acer,H P,Toshiba, Dell Computers and other International Companies. The Microsoft internet E-mail draw is held periodically and is organized to encourage the use of the Internet and promote computer literacy worldwide,Once again on behalf of all our staff we say CONGRATULATIONS.
 
Sincerely,
Adriana Anton
Microsoft UK Promotion Coordinator

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