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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "cashiers check" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447023058932 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448701325787 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • infomswlfrank1@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT PROMOTIONS" <notificationsmail@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 10:39:29 +0000
Subject: THE MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNERS NOTIFICATION.

MANAGER, INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE
AWARD DEPARTMENT MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT
LOTTERY, UNITED KINGDOM.
89 New Fetter Lane London, EC4A 1AG U.K
REF NO: MSW/56B-672GH/L
BATCH: 4583JL/WIN

{NO TICKETS WERE SOLD}

MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERY PROMOTIONS, EMAIL AWARD PROMO: UNITED KINGDOM

Finally TODAY FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER 2005, we announce the winners of the
MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS that was just concluded. Your
company or your personal e-mail address, attached to winning number
23-76-06-54-42-100, with serial number 647489, consequently won in the Tenth
lottery category.

You are therefore been approved for lump sums pay out of GBP 5,500,000.00
POUNDS ($10,464,000 USD) in cash Credited to file REF NO: MSW/56B-672GH/L
and winning number 23-76-06-54-42-100, this is from total prize money of GBP
27,500, 000.00 POUNDS, shared among the Twenty five (25)international
winners in this category.

All participants were selected through our Microsoft computer ballot system
drawn form 42,000 Names, 6,000 names from each continent, as part of
International "E-MAIL" Promotions Program, for our prominent MS WORD user
all over the world, and for the Continues use of E-mail. Your fund
(certified Cashiers check) has been insured with your REF NO:
MSW/56B-672GH/L and winning number 23-76-06-54-42-100. 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 processor is:
Mr Frank Nestle
Information and Payment Bureau London Office:
E-mail Address: infomswlfrank1@yahoo.co.uk
Phone: +44-702-305-8932
Fax: +44-870-132-5787

Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than one(1)week after
the day of notification. After this date, all funds will be returned as
unclaimed.

NOTE:
Do email the above email addresses, all at once. In order to avoid
unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your
reference and winning numbers in all correspondences with your claims
officer.
Claims Requirements:

1. Full Name:..............................................................
2. Address:................................................................
3.Nationality:.......................................................... .
4.Age:.........................Date of Birth:.............................
5. Occupation:.............................................................
6.Phone:...............Phone 2:...................Fax:....................
7. State of Origin:......................Country:.........................
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our
promotions program.

Sincerely,
MR.DURHAM DELNADO
Online International Lottery Co-Ordinator for MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO

***********************************************************************************************
The MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO is proudly sponsored by the Microsoft
corporation,the Intel Group,Toshiba,Dell computers,Mckintosh and a
conglomeration of other international IT companies.The MICROSOFT MEGA
JACKPOT LOTTO internet draw is held once in a year and is so organized to
encourage the use of the internet and computers worldwide.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam