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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® CORPORATIONS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <microsoftaward019@163.com>
Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2015 08:24:17 -0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS HAS WON £450,000.00 GBP (Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Great British Pounds Sterling)

 
MICROSOFT® CORPORATIONS
Cardinal Place
80-100 Victoria Street
London,SW1E 5JL
United Kingdom
 
 
 
MICROSOFT OFFICIAL PROMOTION
 
 
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 2014/2015 organized by Microsoft, in conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of software products, (F.S.P) held this 2015,in the Microsoft Head Quarters London United Kingdom, where your email address emerged as one of the online Winning emails in the 2nd category and therefore attracted a cash award of £450,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Great British 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 OF MICROSOFT WINNERS;
 
 
1st. £5,000,000.00 GBP
2nd. £2,000,000.00 GBP
3rd. £1,000,000.00 GBP
4th. £450,000.00  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/149/2015
(2). Email Bonus Numbers: MSLP-1009021
(3). Batch Numbers: MSOFT/421/8PDH
(4). Reference Numbers: GB/54/132/921/MSOFT
(5). Serial Numbers: MSOFT/2015/NLP00292
 
Microsoft Verification Requirements
 
(1). Full Name:
(2). Address:
(3). Nationality/Gender:
(4). Age:
(5). Occupation:
(6). Phone:
(7). Country:
(8). How do you feel as a Microsoft Winner:
(9). Ever Won an Online Award or Bonus:
(10). Winning Email Address:
 
 
To file for your claim, Please contact your Microsoft GB Manager 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 Microsoft Promotion Company. You are required to mention the above particulars of your award in every correspondence to enable the Manager validate your winnings.
 
NOTE:
 
(1). To fill the claims processing form if you are not used to pdf files, you print it out and fill it or simply copy the entire notification letter to either Microsoft Word or Notepad for easy access.
 
 
(2). 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.
 
 
Dr. Steven Sandler
General Manager, Online Division, UK
E-mail: microsoftaward019@163.com
 
 
The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by our CEO/Chairman, Satya Nadella and a consortium of software promotion companies like Intel Group,Acer,H P,Toshiba,Pisem,Aol, Dell Computers and other International Companies.
 
 
As Satya Nadella becomes the third CEO of Microsoft, he brings a relentless drive for innovation and a spirit of collaboration to his new role. He joined Microsoft 23 years ago because he saw how clearly Microsoft empowers people to do magical things and ultimately make the world a better place. Many companies, he says, “aspire to change the world. But very few have all the elements required: talent, resources and perseverance. Microsoft has proven that it has all three in abundance.”
 
 
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 Staffs & Members of Microsoft GB Board Commission Congratulations.
 
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Owen Sagness
General Manager of Advertising and On-line
Microsoft Corporations®
 
 
 

Anti-fraud resources: