419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)au> Re Cheque of $800,000.00patriate engineer.OD.WAP\g[

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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 director" (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)
- "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. )
- "cashier's 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. 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.
- +447045719646 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "MICORSOFT AWARD TEAM" <bibliomonde@noos.fr>
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:00:25 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: =?UTF-8?B?IFdJTkRPV1MgTElWRSAvIE1JQ1JPU09GVMKuIFBST01PVElPTiAy?=
=?UTF-8?B?MDEw?=

WINDOWS LIVE® / MICROSOFT® INTERNATIONAL 2010

(Microsoft Award Team.)
Batch: 12/25/0340

Microsoft Ltd.
Microsoft Campus
Thames Valley Park
Reading, Berkshire RG6 1WG
United Kingdom

.........Please Reply to ...... verificate.microsft@w.cn ............................

Dear Cash Winner,

This is to inform you that your e-mail address was selected and confirmed by our co-sponsor Microsoft International, through their latest internet software. You have therefore been approved by MICROSOFT®CORPORATION UK the sum of £500,000.00 Great British Pounds(Five Hundred Thousand Pounds). These funds are in cash, credited to a valid cashier's check, with a winning Reg. No. MCIMJ: 36925/0751.
This Email Electronic Draws was promoted and sponsored MICROSOFT WINDOWS as part of their social responsibility to the citizens in the communities where they have operational base. All Participants were selected randomly through a computer balloting system from over 100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online from Canada, Australia, United States, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Oceania.

PURPOSE OF YAHOO&MICROSOFT WINDOWS AWARDS THROUGH THE YEARS
Mission Statement of the Bureau of State Lottery
* to thank the public for all the financial benefits Yahoo! & Microsoft has received from its numerous customers.
* To help and limit hardship round the globe through financial assistance.
* To generate revenue for the state of International world with the public good.
* To provide quality gaming/lotto entertainment to the International world with the Statutory mandate.
* To maintain the integrity of lottery games and activities.

PAYMENT OF PRIZE AND CLAIM:
You are to contact the verifications' manager with immediate effect to facilitate the protocol of your winning prize before the expiry date of Claim; Winners shall be paid in accordance with his/her Settlement Center. Prize must be claimed not later than 15 days from date of Draw Notification after the Draw date in which Prize has won. Any prize not claimed Within this period will be forfeited. These are your identification numbers:

Batch number....................12/25/0340
Ref number.......................Reg. No. MCIMJ: 36925/07
Winning number...................YM09788

Be informed that your prize has been insured and ready for pay out to you. You are to contact Verifications' Manager Desk below with your required information's

You are to contact Claims Verification Manager.
Name: Mr. Jeremiah Parker
Email: verificate.microsft@w.cn

Tel: +44 7045 71 9646

You are therefore advised to send the following information to the claims agent to help facilitate the claims of your prize .Note that it is mandatory you use the email of the Accredited agent above to send your response so that your email will be attended to, if you click reply on this message you will not get the response of your Accredited agent, so you are expected to carefully use the email address of the claims director above to provide your requested information.

Do email the above Claims Administrator, at once with this Claims Requirements;
1. Full Name: ................
2. Address: ...............
3. Nationality: ................
4. Age: ...............
5. Occupation: Nature of Work: ................
6. Phone: ............... Fax: ................
7. State of Origin: Country: .............
8. Sex: ................
9. Winning Email Address: .............

Mode of Prize Remittance:
(1) Courier Delivery Of your Certified Winning Cheque and other Winning Documents safely to you.
(2) Bank Wire Transfer.
NOTE: Your required information above will only be used for the stated purpose of assisting you legally to receive your prize as announced in this notification letter. Any other distribution, use, or release of any of your information to a third party is highly prohibited without your consent, to maintain your privacy and personal safety.
Yours in service,
(Operation Manager)
Microsoft Promotion Award Team.
Microsoft Winning Notification
Copyright © 2010 Microsoft® Inc. UK.
WINDOWS LIVE® / MICROSOFT® INTERNATIONAL 2010

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam