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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: unicefofficer1@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 16:58:09 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!(YOU WON $350,000 IN UNICEF LOTTERY)


Date: 6th-November-2008
Ref 575061725
Fin: MX276
Batch:8056490902/156
Winning no: AF5431/ LPRC

This is to inform you that you have been awarded the sum of $350,000 Three
Hundred And Fifty Thousand United States Dollars in the 2008 United Nations
Children Emergency Funds (UNICEF).
UNICEF collects all the email addresses of the people that are active
online. Six people were selected to benefit from this Financial Aid
programme and you are one of the Beneficiaries.

PAYMENT AND CLAIM OF THE STATED SUM

Beneficiaries shall be paid in accordance with the standing payment
guidelines. UNICEF Aid fund must be claimed not later than 20 days from date
of this Notification. Any Prize not claimed within this period will be
returned to the Treasury of the UNICEF.The Information above fall within the
Nigeria Location file and you are requested to contact the claims department
and send them your Fund

Identification Numbers [FIN];CONTACT INFORMATION FUND CLAIM DEPARTMENT
UNICEF.

Name: James Damian.
Email:unicefofficer1@gmail.com <Email%3Aunicefofficer1@gmail.com>
Tel: +234-803-8704396

He shall immediately commence the process that will facilitate the release
of your fund to you. Fill in the complete informations in the form below for
the release of your fund.

Name:..................................
Age:.....................................
Sex:.....................................
Occupation:..........................
Current Address:......................
Country:...................................
Telephone
No:.(Mobile)............................(Office)......................

Congratulations!! once again.
Yours in service,
Dr.(Mrs.) MELLISSA HELENS.
[Publicity Secretary]
******************************************************************************************
WARNING!
You may also receive similar e-mails from people portraying to be other
Organizations or UNICEF. This is solely to collect your personal information
from you and lay claim over your Fund. If you receive any mail similar to
this notification letter, Kindly forward a copy to us and delete it from
your mail box and give no further correspondence to such person or body.

UNICEF shall not be held responsible for any loss of fund arising from the
above mentioned

Anti-fraud resources: