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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: "raymondsmith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <raymondsmiths_2@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:29:49 -0000
Subject: REPLY

Dear Lucky Winner,
 
We are delighted to inform you the result of the annual final draws of Master Card Annual Promo.
The online Master Card Annual Promo draws was conducted by a random selection of E-mail addresses from an exclusive list of 29,031 E-mail addresses of individuals and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random computer (TOPAZ) However,no tickets were sold but all E-mail addresses were assigned to different ticket numbers for representation and privacy.
 
After this automated computer ballot,your E-mail address emerged as one of the  Eight (8) lucky winners in the fourth category for the second prize with the following data:
 
Ref Number: ASL/941OYI/02/SHYN
Batch Number: HGL-14/28/0046
Ticket Number: 025-11464992-750
 
You, as well as the other winners, are therefore to receive Two Million Five Hundred thousand Pounds Sterlings for the total payout.
Your prize award has been insured with your E-mail address and will be transferred to you upon meeting the requirements, statutory obligations, verifications, validations and satisfactory report. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European representative office in London/Uk, as indicated in your play coupon and your prize of Two Million Five Hundred Pounds will be released to you from our office.
 
You are required to fill and Submit the below information to the Processing management via e-mail.
 
Name:......
Age:... .
Sex:...
Date of birth..
Home Address:....
Phone number.. ( code/number)......
E-mail that won....
Occupation.......
Company:.......
Next of Kin:....
Nationality:.....
Country:........
 
Your Reference and Batch number at the top of this E-mail: Please you are advised to complete the form and send it immediately to our Processing management via e-mail for prompt collection of your fund.
 
Contact your claim agent: Reverend Raymond Smiths
 
Email: raymondsmiths_2@yahoo.co.jp
Email: raymondsmiths_2@yahoo.co.jp
 
Your agent will submit your information to the authorized Paying Bank.
 
For security reasons, we advise all winners to keep this information confidential from the public until your claim is processed and your prize released to you.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking advantage of this program by non-participant or unofficial personnel.
 
All winnings MUST be claimed before the end of this program; otherwise all funds will be returned as Unclaimed.
 
Thank you and Accept our congratulations once again!
 
Yours faithfully,
Mrs Nancy Roberts
Master Card /Lottery Coordinator.
  

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