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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: mercurialchipslottery@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 05 Jul 2005 03:33:30 +0200
Subject: WINNINGS NOTIFICATIONS #########CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS MANAGER.

MERCURIAL CHIPS LOTTERY
# 313 LEEDS HILLS
RIVONIA-JOHANNESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA.
FILE REFERENCE NO:MCLSA/5500505/42450
Stake Number: MCLSA/CHL/8845580/71.
Sec Code: MCLSA/CHL/5550405/72.
TO WINNERS IN OUR PROGRAMME.
We wish to congratulate you over your success in our
computer balloting sweepstake held on 3rd july 2005.
This is a millennium scientific computer game in which
email addresses were used. It is a promotional program
aimed at encouraging internet users; therefore you do
not need to buy ticket to enter for it. However, your
email address was attached to stake number
MCLSA/CHL/8845580/71 with sec code MCLSA/CHL/5550405/72
which eventually won the lottery in
the first category of the draws. This entitles you to a
cash award of US$ 1, 500,000.00 (ONE MILLION FIVE
HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS). This is from total
prize money of US$30,000,000.00 distributed to winners
from 1st to 3rd categories.
Note that this program was largely promoted and
sponsored by a group of philanthropist, industrialists
from the internet ware industry and some other big
multinational firms who wish to be anonymous.
To begin your claim, please contact the claims co-ordinator
THOMPSON MARORO
Email address:thompsonmaroro@gmail.com
TEL: +27-837-640-556(or DIAL STRAIGHT AS WRITTEN 011-27-837-640-556)
Yours Faithfully,
For: MERCURIAL CHIPS LOTTERY
MS. TANDI DE MARTINS.


Anti-fraud resources: