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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Wilson Morris" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wilsons.morris@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 02:21:20 +0200
Subject: GOOD DAY

I am Mr. Wilson Morris of MICROSOFT Office.

Your e-mail account won in the MICROSOFT/SOUTH-AFRICA ONLINE REGIONAL LOTTERY with winning
number MX026583, you will receive a winning payment of $8.5 Million US Dollars.

However, we received an email from one Mrs. Virgie Brown who told us that she is your next of kin and that
you died in a car accident last week. She has also submitted her account for us to transfer your winning to
her. We want to confirm if you are dead before we can make the transfer.

Please in confirmation that you are still alive, you are advised to reconfirm the below listed information to
enable us facilitate an immediate payment for you.

1: Your full names.
2: Your present contact address.
3: Your telephone & Fax numbers.
4 Your Occupation/age/sex.
5: Your Private Email Address.

Once again, I Congratulate you on behalf of MICROSOFT group.

Regards,
Mr. Wilson Morris.
wilson.morris@consultant.com

Anti-fraud resources: