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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: "patrick widen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <facebookmail.dept05@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 24 May 2003 07:48:42 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACE BOOK!

CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACE BOOK!

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual
Final draws held on the (15th november 2011) by Face book group in cash
Promotion to encourage the usage of Face book world wide, your
javascript:void(0)Name was among the 20 Lucky winners who won
$600.000.00USD (six hundred thousand united state dollars) each on the
Face book group promotion Award Attached to ticket number (5647600545189)
and Ref No (2551256002/244) Serial Number (55643451907).

The online draws was Conducted by a random selection of email you where
picked by an Advanced automated random computer search from the Face book
in other To claim your $600.000.00USD
the lottery program which is a new innovation by Face book, is aimed at
saying A BIG THANK YOU to all our users for making Face book their number
one means to connect, communicate,relate and hook up with their families
and friends over the years.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants and Scam artists
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn
from
over 20,000 companies' and 30,000,000 individuals' email addresses and
names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every
three years.You have to be Rest assured that this is Real and Legal..and
there are Some Scam artists around...Thanks to the FBI...216 of them have
been arrested... The software corporation to encourage some few
individuals with web site and email addresses promoted this lottery.

Your name was selected in a raffle that was made 26th of december 2011 so we
need your fast response so that we can proceed with the delivery of your
fund .

You are required to contact our dispatch dept via email
(facebookmail.dept05@gmail.com) with information below in order for us
to complete your winning certificate and for further information
regarding
the disbursement of your lottery win.

FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:
NATIONALITY / COUNTRY:
TICKET NUMBER:
REF NUMBER:
SERIAL NUMBER:
YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS:

All winnings must be claimed not later than 5th of January, 2012. After this
date, all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. To avoid
unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your
reference and batch numbers in all correspondences. Furthermore, if there
is any change in email address please contact us on time

Note: Do not reply to these Face Book Account for security purpose reply
to the payment department in charge and if you are not interested please
do not bother to reply.

To enable him issue you certificate of winning Accept my hearty
congratulations once again

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN FROM FACE BOOK!

Thanks,
Regards,
Patrick Widen
Promo Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources: