joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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:

Fraud email example:

From: "MICRO SOFT OFFICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officemicrosoft@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2011 23:40:04 +0100
Subject: DEAR LUCKY WINNER!!!!!

 
 
2011 Promotion Award Notification
 
Microsoft Corporations:
 
Customer Service
 
Wrights Lane,
 
Kensington London W85SP,
 
England UNITED KINGDOM
 
FILE REF: HL/5564/010/011/MICS
 
BATCH: MC11/834/5PDH /EU
 
 
 
It is obvious that this notification will come to you as a surprise but please find time to read it carefully as we congratulate you over your success in the following official publication of results of the E-mail electronic online Sweepstakes organized by Microsoft, in conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of software products, (F.P.S.) held this Year 2011,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??950.000 pounds (Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand pounds sterling) Our winners are arranged into four categories with different winning prizes accordingly in each category.
 
 
 
They are arranged in this format below.
 
CATEGORY NO.OF WINNERS WINNING PRIZES
 
 
 
1st. 150,000.00 pounds each
 
2nd. 950,000.00 pounds each
 
3rd. 4500,000.00 pounds each
 
4th. 250,000.00 pounds each
 
 
 
FOR VERIFICATION PURPOSE PLEASE INCLUDE:
 
 
 
(1) Your contact address...........................
 
(2) Your Tel/Fax numbers.........................
 
(3) Your Nationality/Country..............................
 
{4} Your Full Names................................
 
(5) Occupation/Age/Sex..........................................
 
(6) Your Preferred Method Of Receiving Your Price From Below)
 
(7) Amount Won
 
 
 
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. NOTE: Do not disclose your Prize Award until your money is successfully handed over to you to avoid disqualification that may arise from double claim.Microsoft shall not be held responsible for any loss of fund arising from the above mentioned.
 
 
 
We write to officially notify you of this award and to advise you to contact the Claims agents (Dr. Denis Mark ) immediately by phone
 
on (+44 7045717854) upon receipt of this message for more information concerning the verification, processing and eventual payment of the above prize to you.
 
 
 
*************************************************************
 
THE FOREIGN TRANSFER MANAGER MICROSOFT SECURITY DEPARTMENT (UK).
 
DR DENIS MARK
 
Telephone: +447045717854
 
Email: (officemicrosoft@yahoo.com )
 
*************************************************************
 
The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by our Yahoo and a consortium of software promotion companies. A HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS! from the Staffs & Members of the interative Lottery Board Commission.
 
Sincerely, MR. MICHAEL SEEDWELLM.S.PRO.
 
ZONAL COORDINATOR.
 
 
 
This email and any attachments may be confidential and/or subject to copyright or other intellectual property right protection. If you are not the intended recipient of the email, you are not permitted to use or disclose any information contained in the email or any attachments
 
and we request you notify the sender and delete.
 
 
 
 

Anti-fraud resources: