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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: "Dr. A. W. George" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info@microsftcorp.net>
Date: Thu, 23 May 2013 10:13:21 +0200
Subject: [***** SPAM 47.6 *****] Customer Service.

Microsoft Corporation Sweepstakes Promotion,
Customer Service.
Batch Number = 2013/01/05/NLMSW.
Reference Number = KBLE / MSW/5417.
Award File Security code = UK/EU/QU34005
21th May 2013


MICROSOFT CORPORATION OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION.

We are pleased to inform you of the release of the long awaited results of Sweepstakes promotion organized by Microsoft Corporations, in conjunction with the FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF SOFTWARE products, (F.P.S.) held this MAY 2013, in the MADRID. Where in your email address emerged as one of the online Winning emails in the 2nd category and therefore attracted a cash award of 350,000.00 euro (Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Euros Only) and a Toshiba laptop. To begin your claim, do file for the release of your winning by contacting our Foreign Transfer Manager:

Provide below informations:
Full Names:
Address:
Nationality:
Country of Residence:
Occupation:
Tel number:
Email:
Mode of Payment: (Bank Transfer or Bank Cheque)
Proof Of Idenfication

Failure to claim your winning will result to rollover or reversion of your winning sum. Any leakage of this winning notification leading in a double claim will cause you to forfeit your prize thus we advise you to keep this winning notification message confidential away from public notice to prevent double claims and impersonation until after remittance/payment to you.

CONTACT DR.KENNETH LUIS CLARENCE
Director of Operations
Tel/Fax: +34-602-569-301 EXT 12
US Tel/Fax:+1-267-202-9600
Email: info@microsftcorp.net

The New Year Promotion for Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by former CEO/Chairman, Bill Gates and a consortium of software promotion companies.The Intel Group, 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 to promote computer literacy worldwide.

Congratulations!!

Sincerely,

Signed By: Dr. A. W. George
Lottery Board Director
Head Office Promotions Manager.
(Group Co-ordinate)
US Fax:+1-267-202-9600

Anti-fraud resources: