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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 Promotions <2014>" <mgr00343@mango.com>
Reply-To: <promo@microsoftpromo.xpbks.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2014 23:50:02 -0700
Subject: Notification of Incoming Payment from Microsoft Cooperation ... Contact Us


 
Ref No: MFSP/ 7748/782/2014
Batch: MFSP/ 955/MPWIN/US
Attenttion: To whom it may concern,

OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION LETTER.

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 Organized by Microsoft , Google, in conjunction with the foundation for the Promotion of Software Products, (F.P.S.) held on February 14th 2014 here in London UK.Google earns its profit mainly from advertising using their very own Google search engine, Gmail , Gala ,All Malaysia e-mail service Google Maps, Google Apps, Orkut social networking and You Tube video sharing, Microsoft Apps and Technology which are all offered to the public for free.
 
We wish to congratulate you once again, for being among the Twelve (12) selected winners in the ongoing E- mail Electronic Online Sweepstakes. Hence we do believe with your prize, you will continue to be active in your patronage to Google and its Products. A Bank Draft of £460,000.00 GBP {Four Hundred and sixty Thousand Great British Pounds} will be issued in your name by our Foreign Payment Bureau and also a certificate of prize claim will be sent alongside your Bank Draft.
 
You are advised to contact our Foreign Payment Bureau with the following details below for the Processing of your Claims:
 FOREIGN PAYMENT RELEASE FORM
 
(1) Your Contact Address:
 
(2) Your Contact Telephone/Mobile Number:
 
(3) Your Nationality/Country: 
(4)Your Full Names: 
 
(5) Occupation:
 
(6) Age/Gender:
 
(7) Marital Status:
 
(8) Private Email Address:
 
(9) Ever Won An Online Lottery?
 
(10) How Do You Feel As A Winner

Mode of Price Remittance/Claiming. 
(1) Bank To Bank Wire Transfer
(2) Courier Delivery Of your Certified Winning Cheque in your Name and other Winning Documents safely to you.
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………
 
Contact our Foreign Payment Bureau officer below: Brain Hookson
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with the E-mail accounts as follows:
Email: promotions@microsoftpromo.xpxsbk.com
Email: Jokul-green@representative.com
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
 NOTE!!! For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims are processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be WARNED!!!!
Congratulations from the Staffs & Members of Google Board Commission. 
 
John .W. Thompson,
Chairman of the Board and Managing Director,
Microsoft Corporation
  ©2014 Microsoft Corporation.
 

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