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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "michael greening" <michael_greening33@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 12:30:53 +0000
Subject: MS-WORD LOTTERY FORM.

FROM: THE DESK OF THE E-MAIL PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
MICROSOFT WORD LOTTERY, UK
3b Olympic Way, Sefton Business Park,
Aintree, Liverpool, L30 1RD
E-mail: admin@ms-wordpromo.com
REF NO: MSW-L/200-26937
BATCH: 2005MJL-01

Attn: sabrinavitkova@yahoo.com

Thank your for your mail. Addresses of individuals and companies from
America, Asia, Africa, Australia, Canada,Europe, Middle East, and New
Zealand as part of our International Promotions Program .

MS-WORD LOTTERY is launching its model computer balloting lottery
draws,developed and designed to satisfy the cravings of the evergrowing
number of participants in our various lottery programs. This is a
promotional draw which officially launches the new system. With funds
accrued exclusively from previous draws, payouts to all winners are
guaranteed and will be transferred in record time. After randomly selecting
15,000 participants from an initial database of 300,000 emails and zoning
all participants by their respective continents from across the globe, we
produced an extensive list from which you have emerged as one of the winners
of the Promotional Grand Draw prize. As a third category winner, you are
entitled to GBP 1,400,000.00 POUNDS, this is from a total sum GBP
7,000,000.00 POUNDS for sixteen international winners.
This correspondence officially confirms that we are in receipt of
instructions relating to the payment of you lottery winnings. Please
complete the form below with correct information and email back to us with a
return email or via the fax number above.

PAYMENT AND RELEASE ORDER FORM

THIS FORM SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE BENEFICIARY OF
THE STATED FUND, FOR VERIFICATION BEFORE TRANSFER.
BENEFICIARY FIRST NAME...........................
BENEFICIARY LAST NAME............................
RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS..............................
PLACE OF BIRTH..........................
TEL. NUMBER................FAX NUMBER...............
EMAIL ADDRESS.............................
NEXT OF KIN NAME AND ADDRESS........................ .................
..................................
................................................................
TICKET
NUMBER........................................................................
AMOUNT
WON............................................................................
BATCH Nº................REFERENCE
Nº..........................................
OCCUPATION.............MARITAL STATUS................ ..................
PAYMENT MODE: OPTIONS
1). CASH PICK UP IN ANY OF OUR PAYMENT CENTRES IN EUROPE
2). SWIFT BANK TRANSFER.
3) CERTIFIED CHEQUE MADE OUT IN YOUR NAME COURIED TO YOU VIA OUR AFFILIATE
COURIER COMPANY

PLEASE INDICATE OPTION THAT BEST SUITS YOU DECLARATION:
I...............HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE DATA ARE TRUE. IN CASE OF ANY
UNFORSEEN CIRCUSTANCE, MY NEXT OF KIN HAS THE RIGHT TO CLAIM MY TOTAL
WINNINGS.(SUPER STANDARD AGENT) SHALL ACT AS MY AGENT IN FACILITATING THE
TRANSFER OF THE TOTAL FUND TO ME.
DATE............
(YOUR FULL NAMES)............................
Looking forward to your urgent reply.

Yours Faithfully,
MICHAEL GREENING.

_________________________________________________________________
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