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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'S LONDON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kobis-benson@outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2016 17:28:11 +0100
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION

MICROSOFT CORPORATION'S LONDON
80-100 VICTORIA STREET,
LONDON SW1E 5JL UNITED KINGDOM
 
 
OFFICIAL NEW BONUS NOTIFICATION.
 
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, in conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of software products, (F.S.P) held this January 2016,in London UK.
 
Where in your email address emerged as one of the online Winning emails in the 2nd category and therefore attracted a cash award of 1,000.000.00 (One Million Pounds Sterling Only) Our winners are arranged into four categories with different winning prizes accordingly in each category.
 
They are arranged in this format below:
 
These are your identification numbers:MS-26322/543
 
CATEGORY NO.OF WINNERS WINNING PRIZES
1st.  2    1,200,000.00 pounds each
2nd. 4    1,000.000.00 pounds each
3rd. 7       850,000.00 pounds each
4th. 9        600,000.00 pounds each
 
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: NLP/54/2244
(2) Email ticket numbers: MSWLP-140567
(3) Batch numbers: MSW10/456/6PDH
(4) The file reference numbers: UK/4476/08/09/MSIC
{5} Serial Numbers: MSW/2015/NLP78989
 
For verification purpose be sure to include:
 
(1) Your contact address.
(2) Your Tel/Fax numbers.
(3) Your Nationality/Country.
(4) Your Full Name.
(5) Occupation / Age.
(6) How Do You Feel as A Winner?
(7) Ever Won an Online Lottery?
 
Mode of Prize Remittance
 
(1)Cash Pick-Up (You coming Down to Uk Personally to Pick Your Price).
 
(2)Courier Delivery Of your Certified Winning Cheque Name and other
Winning Documents safely to you.
 
To file for your claim, Please contact your Validating Officer for VALIDATION 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 and invalid. You are required to mention the above particulars of your award in every correspondence to enable the Agent validate your winning.
 
CONTACT:
*************************************************************
******
FIDUCIARY AGENT
Sir  James Kobis
Email:  kobisbenson@outlook.com
           
*************************************************************
*******
 
The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by our 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 promote computer literacy worldwide.
 
Once again on behalf of all our staff we say CONGRATULATIONS!
 
Sincerely
MAY ANDERSON.
M.S.PRO.ZONAL COORDINATOR
 
NOTE: 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, Kindly forward a copy to us and delete it from your mail box and give no further correspondence to such person or body. Microsoft shall not be held responsible for any loss of fund arising from the above mentioned.
 

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