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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!
  
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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:
  • "cheque " (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. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +447035914433 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: MICROSOFT WINDOWS <award@microsoft.co.uk>
Reply-To: <micr71@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 07:36:22 +0100
Subject: Official Notification.





Microsoft Corporations:
Customer Service
Wrights Lane,
Kensington London W85SP,
England UNITED KINGDOM
FILE REF: HL/5564/06/07/MICS
BATCH: MC11/834/5PDH /EU



OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION.



On behalf of the Microsoft Co-operations, We Congratulate you over your
success in the following official publication results of the E-mail electronic
online Sweepstakes organized by Microsoft Uk, in conjunction with the
Foundation for the Promotion of Software Products, (F.P.S.) held On January
7th 2009 here in London UK.

Where in your email address emerged as one of the online Winning emails in the
2nd Category and therefore attracted a cash award of £350.000.00 (Three
Hundred and Fifty Thousand British Pounds Sterling),therefore you are advise
you to contact the processing office immediately upon receipt of this message
for more information concerning the verification, processing and eventual
payment of the above prize to you.

It is important to note that your award information was released with the
following particulars attached to it.
(1) Award numbers: NL 56/7766
(2) Email ticket numbers: EAASL-130877
(3) Serial Numbers: McST/006/NL46560


For verification purpose is sure to include:
(1) Your contact address.
(2) Your Tel/Fax numbers.
(3) Your Nationality/Country.
(4) Your Full Names.
(5) Sex.
(6) Occupation.
(7) Your Preferred Method of Receiving Your Price (From Below)

Mode of Price Remittance.

(1)Cash Pick-Up (You coming Down to Uk Personally to Pick Your Price).

(2)Courier Delivery Of your Certified Winning Cheque Name and other Winning
Documents safely to you.


To file for your claim, Please contact your Validating Officer for VALIDATION
of your winning within Twenty-nine working days of this winning notification.
Winnings that are not validated within Twenty-nine working days of winning
notification are termed void and invalid. You are required to mention the
above particulars of your award in every correspondence to enable the Agent
validate your winning.
CONTACT:
*******************************************************************
FOREIGN CLAIMS MANAGER
DR.FRANK BRAIN.
MICROSOFT SECURITY DEPARTMENT (UK).
Phone: Phone: +44 703 591 4433
FAX: +44 701 113 4155
E-mail:managerclaims@live.co.uk
********************************************************************
The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by our CEO/Chairman,
Bill Gates and a consortium of software promotion companies.
The Intel Group, Toshiba, Dell Computers and other International Companies.
The Microsoft internet E-mail draw is held periodically and is organized to
encourage the use of the Internet and promote computer literacy worldwide.

Once again on behalf of all our staff,

CONGRATULATIONS!
Sincerely,

MR. RICKY WILLIAMS.
M.S.PRO. ZONAL COORDINATOR.

© 2001-2008 MICROSOFT WINDOWS®.
77735 876378

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam