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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: "AWARD CO-ORDINATOR" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cc36458@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 00:33:42 -0000
Subject: Dear Internet User.

Dear Internet User.
 
We are happy to inform you that you have Won $500,00000(Five Hundred Thousand Us Dollars Only) for the month of December 2009 Lottery Win promotion which is organized by ONLINE LOTTERY every month.
ONLINE LOTTERY, collects all the e mail identity of the people online and among the millions that log on to the internet we only select twenty five people every Month as our winners through electronic balloting System without the winner applying, we are congratulating you for having been one of the people selected.
 
PAYMENT OF PRIZE AND CLAIM
You are to contact your Claims Agent on or before your date of Claim, Winners Shall be paid in accordance with his/her Settlement Center. ONLINE LOTTERY Prize must be claimed no later than 12 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
REF NO: GW/5838610584/09
BATCH NO: GW/48670515/9
SERIAL No: 57306-09
TICKET NO:715-693542-09
LUCKY NO :90-44-88-22-09
 
These numbers are your winning identification numbers,make sure you send the information to two of your claim agent e mails below,
Claim Agent Details Below;
DR JAMES PATRICK
 
E-MAIL:   cc36458@gmail.com
 
 
for identification and further instructions.
You are therefore advise to also send the following information to the Claims Agent to facilitate them and process the transfer of your fund.
 
1.Full name
2.Contact Address
3.Telephone Numbers
4.Marital Status
5.Occupation
6.Date of Birth
7.Nationality
Congratulations!! Once more.
Best Regards,
MR.Martin Thompson (Award co-ordinator)

Anti-fraud resources: