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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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Please note about this email:

Fraud email example:

From: "susan hart" <msworldclaimsdept@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2005 16:46:06 +0000
Subject: AWARD WINNING NOTICE FORM SUSAN HART

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
REF NO: MSW-L/200-26937
BATCH: 2005MJL-01
ELECTRONIC MAIL AWARD WINNING NOTICE FORM SUSAN HART
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today of winners of the MSW MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS.
Your company or your personal e-mail address, is attached to winning number 20-28JAN-2005-02MSW, with serial number S/N-00168 drew the lucky numbers 887-13-865-37-10-83, and consequently won in the first lottery category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of GBP 1,400,000.00 POUNDS in cash credited to file REF NO: MSW-L/200-26937 This is from total prize money of GBP 7,000,000.00 POUNDS, shared among the Twenty (5) international winners in this category.
All participants were selected through our microsoft computer ballot system drawn form 21,000 names,3,000 names from each continent, as part of International "E-MAIL" Promotions Program, which is conducted annually for our prominent MS WORD user all over the world, and for the continues use of E-mail. We are sorry to let you know that our site is still under construction, as we are updating our site.
Your fund has been deposited in an escrow account and insured with your REF NO: MSW-L/200-26937 and your E-mail address, Please note that, you are to contact us via email and not phone as we are promoting the use of E-mail, any communications with this office should be by mail, You have the right to call the bank, as we will provide you with the necessary details on how to claim your prize. You are to keep your ref. number and batch number from the public, until you have been processed and your money remitted to your account.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and the act of scamming people of their ref number and prizes. We hope with a part of your prize, you will participate in our year high stakes US$1.3 billion International Lottery.
To claim your winning prize, you must first contact the claims department by email for processing and remittance of your prize money to you. The claims officer contact email is:
Name: Grey Carpenter
E-mail: claimsdepartment@mswordonline.com
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than the 15th of July, 2005. All funds not claimed on or before the fixed date will be penalised accordingly.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all correspondences with your claims officer. Any winner below the age of 18years is automatically disqualified
Sincerely,
Mrs.susan hart,
For MS WORD LOTTO UK;
NOTE: Do not reply this mail. You are to contact your claims officer immediately.
SPONSORS:
CHIEF SPONSOR;
MICROSOFT CO-OPERATIONS UK, MICROSOFT CO-OPERATIONS ASIA MICROSOFT  CO-OPERATIONS USA .

 

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