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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 COMPANY <steves35678@gmail.com>
Reply-To: microsoftcompany0011@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2023 08:02:15 +0100
Subject: LOTTERY LUCKY WINNER

--
You just won yourself a sum of $3,500,000.00( THREE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND
DOLLARS ) on our random email selection on microsoft prize
winning exercise on 11 APRIL 2023. This exercise is held
periodically and is organized to
encourage the use of the Internet and promote computer literacy
worldwide.You are to provide the below personal information to enable us
process your
claim;

(1). Full Name:
(2). Address:
(3). Nationality/Gender:
(4). Age:
(5). Phone:
(6). Country
Congratulations once more from the entire management and staff of
Microsoft Cooperation to all our lucky winners this year. Thank you for
being part of this promotional lottery program. Our special thanks and
gratitude to Bill Gates of Microsoft and all his Associates for
alleviating poverty round the world.

note that your award information was released with the following
particularsmicrosoftcompany(1). Award Numbers: UK/149/2022
(2). Batch Numbers: MSOFT/421/8PDH
(3). Reference Numbers: GB/54/132/921/MSOFT

CONTACT MICROSOFT COMPANY

Satya Narayana Nadella
Chairman

Anti-fraud resources: