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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Microsoft Inc® Lottery" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <agent.mikebruce@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2015 19:02:57 +0200
Subject: Congratulation's You Have Won Microsoft Lottery 2015 Internet Software

MICROSOFT® CORPORATION
LOTTERY DEPARTMENT
Date:2nd October 2015
 
Attention Dear Winner,
 
We happily announce to you the draw of the Microsoft Lottery prize 2015  held yesterday. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: {MCIMJ36925/2015} with Serial Number {5388/02} drew the lucky numbers: {2009234522/IN}, which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category. You are therefore, been approved to claim a total sum of $1,500,000.00 in cash credited to file {KPC/MFI/06/APA-43658} This is from a total cash prize of US $4.7 Million, shared amongst the first Fifty (50) lucky winners in this category.
 
This year Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever for MICROSOFT® CORPORATION. The biggest was the $563 Million jackpot that went to two winners in a May
2009 drawing of The Big Game, Mega Millions' predecessor. Bear in mind our paying bank will immediately commence process to facilitate the release of your funds to you as soon as you made contact with our fiduciary agent in the name Mr. Michael Bruce, All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 companies.
This promotion takes place annually so you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your prize is remitted to you through our paying Bank.
This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned. To file for your claim immediately and contact the fiduciary agent immediately with below information's for processing of your claims.
 
Contact Person:-
Name: Mr. Michael Bruce
Fiduciary Agent &
Microsoft Inc® Lottery Coordinator
Email: agent.mikebruce@gmail.com
        Tel:+(1) 754 206 1973
 
Do email the above Claims Administrator, at once with below  claims requirements:
 
1. FULL NAMES :............................
2. RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:....................
3. DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH:................
4. PHONE/FAX NUMBERS:......................
5. SEX:....................................
6. OCCUPATION:.............................
7. MARITAL STATUS:.........................
8. WINNING EMAIL:..........................
9. AMOUNT WON:.............................
10.NATIONALITY:...........................
 
WARNING! Winners shall not exceed 14 days from the date of Draw Notification to claim their money. Any prize not claimed within this period will be forfeited.
 
All winning information should be private & confidential for security reasons!
 
Congratulations!! Once again.
 
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Long Timothy
Head of Customer Care Service.
Copyright © 2015 Microsoft® Inc.

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