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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "microsoft lottery" (no such lottery exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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.
  • +447031954526 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Landry, Christine" <clandry2@babson.edu>
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 13:27:59 -0400
Subject: Congratulations

UK Microsoft Lottery.
31 Dibdin House,
Maida Vale,
London W9 1QE
United Kingdom

02, September, 2008.

Dear Lucky winner,
The UK Microsoft Corporation has set out and successfully organized a
sweepstakes marking the Mid Year Anniversary Draws, we rolled out over
100,000.000 GBP for the Mid Year Anniversary Draws. Participants for
the draws were randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of web
hosts which we enjoy their patronage.

The selection was made through a computer draw system attaching
personalized email addresses to ticket numbers. Your email address as
indicated was drawn and attached to ticket number 065/088/XY24 with
serial numbers UK/839030X2/08 and drew the lucky numbers 02-22-26-28-
30-39(12) which subsequently won you 500,000 GBP. The draws registered
as Draw number one was conducted in London, United Kingdom. Held on
31st of August, 2008.These Draws are commemorative and as such special.
Please be informed by this winning notification to file for your claim.
Kindly forward your winning details to:

MICROSOFT LOTTERY CLAIM DEPARTMENT.
Dr. McDonald Ray.
Email: drdonaldray@live.com
Tel: +44-703-195-4526
Tel: +44-703-194-6313

PRIZE CLAIMS PAYMENT REQUIREMENT FORM.
1. Full Names.
2. Country.
3. Contact Address.
4. Occupation.
5. Telephone Number.
6. Date of Birth.

DECLARATION:
I___________HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE DATA ARE TRUE. THAT

MY
CLAIMS AGENT SHALL ACT AS A FACILITATOR IN THE TRANSFER OF THE

TOTAL
FUND TO ME.

DATE________

Congratulations from the entire member of the Microsoft Lottery
Promotion Award Team.

Sincerely,

Landry Christine.
Promotion Manager, Microsoft Lottery, UK.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam