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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Brigit Willem" <megalotto2005@netscape.net>
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 04:56:26 -0500
Subject: YOUR EMAIL WON THE LOTTERY

FROM: THE DESK OF THE LOTTO CHANCELLOR, WINNING NOTIFICATION. INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT, REF: KIY/47560460037/02. BATCH: 24/23519/YHI ATTENTION: RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as a winner in the REAL EXCHANGE LOTTO PROMO ,THE GLOBAL MEGA LOTTERY INT.,PROGRAMS held in AMSTERDAM through a computer ballot system Your company/Your email, is attached to ticket number 023-5876-790-279, with serial number 3673-10 drew the lucky numbers 43-14-42-37-69-25, and consequently won the lottery in the first category. You have t herefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$800 000:00 in cash credited to file REF: KIY /47560460037/02. This is from total prize money of US$20,000,000.00 shared among the 25 international winners in this category. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 30,000 names from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa as part of International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually. CONGRATULATIONS! Your fund is now deposited with a Finance House insured in your name. Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by Participants of this program. We hope with a part of you prize, you will participate in our end of year high stakes US$5.7 Million Netherlands International Lottery. To begin your claim, please contact our international claims agent: Mr.Tony van more. Email:tonyvanmore1002@netscape.net Tel: +31-644-807-638 INTERNATIONAL COORDINATOR, For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice. Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 30th/ 07/ 2006. After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed. NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your correspondences with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claim's agent as soon as possible Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program. Sincerely, Mrs. Brigit Willem THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER, GLOBAL MEGA LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will Result to disqualification. All participants below the age of18 are automatically disqualified.

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