419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!

Fraud email example:

From: LA PRIMITIVA LOTERIA <veronica_alvesprim81@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <lerviacons@aim.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:28:51 +0000
Subject:
=?Windows-1252?Q?DEAR_WINNER(CONGRATULATION_FROM_LA_PRIMITIVA_LOTERIA_ESP?=
=?Windows-1252?Q?A=D1A)?=

Dear Winner,Your e-mail address was selected as winner of La Primitiva Loteria España held on 8th December 2007. You have won the sum of € 2.876.895,45(Two Million, Eight Hundred And Seventy Six Thousand, Eight Hundred And Ninety Five Euros,Fourty Five Cents Only) Five Cent Only) in cash credited to file with Reference number: ESP/1245/114L/LOP Winning Number:14-32-33-39-43-47
To file for your claim, please contact
Lervia Consultas S.LMr.Jacob WillsReply Email: lerviacons@aim.comTel:0034 625 193 031Congratulations once again from all our staff. Sincerely,Veronica Alves.Secretary.www.loteria.es
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam