419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "ms-word lotto" (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "foreign service manager" (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.
- +447031747666 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: FROM MICROSOFT LOTTERY OFFICE UK <colaclaimsagent@gmail.com>
Reply-To: onlinegoodluck@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 03:30:24 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATION,YOU HAVE WON.CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT
IMMEDIATELY

Dear Our Esteem Winner,

CONGRATULATION! CONGRATULATION!! CONGRATULATION!!!

Microsoft Co-operation Management Worldwide are pleased to inform you
that today 21st November 2013 that you are a winner of our End of the
yearly annual MS-WORD LOTTO LOTTERY conducted in United State being
the host of the event for this present year MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNING
PROGRAM held on the, 20th October, 2013. Your email address was
attached to ticket number 214-056-278 with serial number S/N-01025 and
drew the lucky numbers 724-595-62-07-45 and consequently won in the
1st category. As a result of this, you have therefore been approved
for a lump sum payout of GBP£1, 999.999.97 One Million Nine Hundred
and Ninety Nine, Nine Hundred and Ninety Nine Pounds Ninety Seven
Sterling payable in cash credited to file Reference No:
MSNW-L/327015002/13.

All participants where selected through our Microsoft computer ballot
system drawn from a collation of frequent internet users all over the
world from America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia,
as part of International Email Promotions Program, which is conducted
annually to encourage the use of internet and computers worldwide.
Your fund (Cashier's cheque) has been insured with your Reference No:
MSMW-L/327015002/13 and will be ready for delivery but in order for
your cheque to be issued and insured in your name and for you to begin
your claim you are urgently required to provide the following
information through email to Sir Brown Peters, Foreign Service
Manager, London United Kingdom,

Kindly send the following information to your claim agent to
facilitate the release of your fund,
1) Your full names
2) Your full home / office address
3) Nationality
4) Direct Land/Mobile phone/fax numbers
5) Occupation / Age
6) Sex
7) Next of kin
8) Amount won
9) Lottery date

Please note that above detailed information will be absolutely
necessary for the processing of your payment cheques, drafts or wire
transfers. Also this winning is valid for THREE WEEKS and failure to
issue claims after this period will automatically void your payment.
Remember to quote your ticket number, serial number and lucky number
in your future correspondence and most importantly as part of our
security protocol you are to quote this security code MSW/JULY/SS07 to
the Foreign Service Manager, this is to prevent scam.

Congratulations once again from the entire management and staff of
Microsoft Corporation to all our lucky winners this year and thank you
for being part of this Promotional lottery Program. Our special thanks
and gratitude goes to Bill Gates of Microsoft and all his associates
for alleviating poverty around the world through this promotion.

Contact No: Foreign Transfer Agent
UNITED KINGDOM MICROSOFT AWARD REPRESENTATIVE AGENT LONDON
Contact Person: Sir Brown Peters
Position: Foreign Service Manager, London United Kingdom
Tel: +447031747666
Fax: +448715033182
Email: awardnotificationuk@ovi.com

You are hereby advised not to disclose the content of this Prize Award
until your money have been remitted to you to avoid disqualification
that will arise from dual claim.

Signed By Dr. A. W. George]
Director.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam