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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 Corporation" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <team779@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2013 14:14:26 -0000
Subject: Congratulations!!!

Microsoft Corporation
Building 3 Microsoft Campus
Thames Valley Park Reading,
Berkshire RG6 1WG
United Kingdom.


Data File Number: F1267-2013
Winning No: MSP/877/798/2013
Email Ref No:699/33/2013

Dear Winner,
You have been awarded the sum of One Million Great British Pounds (£1,000.000.00), by the Microsoft Awards in conjunction
with Microsoft Windows Promotion. Your winning is drawn from a computer ballot of 10,000,000 emails selected worldwide from
our database, your email attached to Data File Number: F1267-2012 among "E" category won you the sum of £1,000.000.00.

Your Winning Cheque will be issued in your name by the Microsoft Corporation’s and mail to you via DPD Courier Company along
with your winning certificate. Information's required from you are part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming
and unwarranted abuse of this program. You are required to fill the verification and fund release form below.

1. Your Full Name:
2. Address:
3. Nationality:
4. Age:
5. Occupation:
6. Cell Phone:
7. State of Origin:

The Microsoft Award Team has discovered a huge number of double claims due to winners informing close friends relatives and third
parties about their winnings and also sharing their identification numbers. As a result of this, these friends try to claim the
Winning funds on behalf of the real winners. The Microsoft Award committee has reached a decision that any double claim discovered
by the Microsoft Promotion Team will result to disqualification of the winning funds. You are strongly advised once more to keep your
winnings strictly confidential until you claim your prize.

Congratulations from the Staffs & Members of the Microsoft Award Team

Secretary,
MR. Tony Leighton
Microsoft Promotion.
Fax: +(44) 701 522 5112
Email: team776@msn.com

© 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Anti-fraud resources: