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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: "BRITISH LOTTO" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:59:53 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATION!

BRITISH LOTTERY
Customer Service
28 BISHOPS STREET,
BISHOPS AVENUE,
LONDON.
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ATTENTION.
 
Good day, we announce to you the draw of our programs held on the 1st of November 2011 in London. Your e-mail address with serial number 5388/02 drew the lucky numbers: 31-6-26-13-35-7, which subsequently won you the sweepstake in the 2nd category.
 
You have been approved to claim a total sum of £7,500,000.00 GBP (Seven million, five hundred thousand, Great Britain Pounds) in cash credited to file RPC/9080118308/04 made available from a total cash prize of £125 Million GBP. You were randomly selected for the online version from World Wide Web sites through a computer drawn system extracted from over 100,000 companies.
 
Please note that your lucky number falls within our booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in our play coupon. In view of this, your £7,500,000.00 GBP (Seven million, five hundred thousand, Great Britain Pounds) would be released to you by our affiliate bank in the United Kingdom as soon as you establish contact.
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To file for your claim, contact our fiduciary agent via email, see details below;
 
AGENT: Mr. Samuel Collins
PHONE: +44 704 578 3997
Email: bl_claims@live.co.uk
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Remember to quote your reference information in all correspondence. You are to keep all information away from the general public especially your serial numbers. (This is important as a case of double claims will not be entertained). Members of affiliate agencies are automatically disapproved from participating in this program.
 
You are hereby advised to send our fiduciary agent the following;
 
1. Your full name
2. Age
3. Primary contact address
4. Your primary contact numbers; phone and fax
5. Your Occupation.
 
Congratulations from all members and staff.
 
Faithfully,
Michael Ronin, Esq.
Zone Coordinator
 

Anti-fraud resources: