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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: POWERBALL LOTTERY < powerballinternational@computer4u.com >
Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:15:51 +0000
Subject: You are the Winner !!!

POWERBALL LOTTERY PROMOTION 2012
Lottery headquarters:
170, Braxton court,
Four ways, east gate
Johannesburg.
Reference Number ZAR/2324514325/5778
Batch number: SAA/4752/ZAR
We are pleased to inform you of the final announcement that you are one of our winners of the POWERBALL Lottery international programs. The online cyber lotto draws was conducted from an exclusive list of 21,000 e-mail addresses. After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address emerged as one of three winners in the category "A" with the following winning information: You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of pounds US,500,000.00 (One Million five hundred thousand dollars).
However no previous notification is given before your email address was picked for this lottery. Generally email address are picked, the draws are processed by the computer through a special program that is special designed for this lottery, the program is known as Random Access Program (RAP)
This software picks email addresses from the internet and through a random process, picks the winners through their email address.
CLAIMING OF PRIZE
To claim your cash prize please contact the lottery manager.MR. BONGANI THOMAS immediately
Contact: Mr. Bongani Thomas
Tel: +27-787-898-740
Fax: +27-865-366-756
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 abuse of this program. Please be warned. 1) Your full names: 2) Your Full address: 3) Telephone and Fax numbers: 4) You.re Batch NO: Ref NO: 5) Ocupation/ Age:
Congratulations!!!
Sincerely,
Mrs. BUTHELEZI Jefferson.
Promotions manager

Anti-fraud resources: