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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "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)
  • "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.
  • +447035943137 (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.
  • curtismark92@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: <mat@microsoftonline.com>
Reply-To: mat_mw1@live.com
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:48:38 +0200
Subject: MICROSOFT AWARD TEAM



MICROSOFT AWARD TEAM,
20 GLENEAGELE ROAD,
STREATHAM SW16 6AB LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM.
GAMING BOARD OF GREAT BRITAIN
LICENSED. ONLINE BALLOT AWARD,
(Registration 70339411).REGISTERED UNDER, THE DATA PROTECTION ACT. MICROSOFT
AWARD INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS.
Draw 1003, 12 / 02 / 2009.


This is to inform you that you have been selected for a cash prize of
£1,000,000.00 (One Million Great British Pounds) from International program
held on 10th Febuary, 2009 in London, UK. The selection process was carried
out through random selection in our computerized email selection system (ESS)
from a database of over 250,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents
of the world.

This Microsoft Award Team WINNINGS PROGRAMS is approved by the
Microsoft award team and also licensed by the International Association of
Gaming Regulators (IAGR). The Microsoft Award Team UK (MAT) was set up by
Parliament in 1994 to give grants to a wide range of projects involving the
local, regional and national heritage of the United Kingdom. We distribute a
share of the money raised by the National award for Good Causes.

To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact your claims
officer through our accredited Prize Transfer agents as stated below:

Mr, Mark Curtis,
20 Gleneagele Road, Streatham SW16 6AB London, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 703 594 3137
Email: curtismark92@yahoo.co.uk

Contact him, please provide him with your batch number BATCH:
2009MJL-01 and your reference number REF NO: MAT/2009-26937
You are also advised to provide him with the under listed information
as soon as possible:

CLAIMS REQUIREMENT FORM

1.Name in full---------------------------------------

2.Address-------------------------------------------

3.Nationality-----------------------------------------

4.Age------------------------------------------------

5. Sex ------------------------------------------------

6.Occupation-----------------------------------------

7.Phone/Fax------------------------------------------

8.Present Country-------------------------------------

9.Email Adress---------------------------------------

10.Choice of Redemption:

(a) Cash collection at the Redemption centre in London-----------

(b) Cheque delivery by Courier-----------------


If you do not contact your claims agent within 7 working days of this
notification, your winnings would be revoked. Our winners are assured
of the utmost standards of confidentiality, and press anonymity until the end
of proceedings, and beyond where they so desire. Winners are advised to keep
their winning details/information from thepublic to avoid fraudulent claim
(IMPORTANT)pending the transfer/claim by Winner.

NOTE: ANYBODY UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IS AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED. ALL
CORRESPONDENCE SHOULD BE FORWARDED
TO: curtismark92@yahoo.co.uk

Remember, all winning in this Third category must be claimed not later
than 28th Febuary 2009. To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, quote
your reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with us or our designated
agent. Congratulations once more.

Faithfully,

NEIL BRIDGE , Mr. MBE.
Zonal Coordinator.

Microsoft Promotion Team

Copyright © 2009 Microsoft Award promo. All rights reserved

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam