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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million pounds" (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.
  • +447031979682 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:11:13 -0600
Subject: Microsoft Word Lottery Team: Your Email Has Won 5.5 Million Pounds:

Microsoft Word Lottery Team: Your Email Has Won 5.5 Million Pounds:
Microsoft Word International Promotions Department,
Mword Lottery, United Kingdom.
E-mail: msw.hilarystones66@live.com
Phone: +44-7031979682
BATCH: 7653MSW/WIN
REF NO: MSW/78A-843BH/B
FBI CLEARANCE FILE NUMBER: FBI/MSW/VERIFIED002

Today, we announce the winners of the MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS, your company or your personal e-mail address, attached to winning number 63-96-03-67-56-430, with serial number 674432, consequently won in the Fifth lottery category.

Do contact the email address below for further Clarifications and to Claim the Award Sum of 5.5 Million Great British Pounds which was awarded to you in a Personality Test Program held to Honor our Customers. Your email address emerged as one of our winners through our Microsoft Random Email Balloting System.

Microsoft International Promotion
Hilary Stones
Director Microsoft Promotion Team.
Contact Email: msw.hilarystones66@live.com

Do email the above email address at once with all the claims requirements below, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications.

Full Name:
Address:
Telephone:
Occupation:
Age:

NOTE: You are to contact your claims officer immediately by email (msw.hilarystones66@live.com)

Copyright © 1991-2008.
MICROSOFT CO-OPERATION
SPONSORS: MICROSOFT CO-OPERATION INTERNATIONAL, HI-SPEED FREIGHT DELIVERY FIRM, LIVE MAIL.COM, HSBC BANK UNITED KINGDOM.
Microsoft Word Lottery Team: Your Email Has Won 5.5 Million Pounds:

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam