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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: "Dr. Allen Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barclaysbankplc@ovi.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2012 16:38:48 +0100
Subject: YOU ARE REQUESTED TO FILL AND SEND

 
 
    MICROSOFTRegistered trademark symbol
    (E.A.A.S Lottery Headquarters,Euro-Afro Asian Sweepstakes Lottery Inc.
    Customer Service,580 N.Tenth Street,Sacrament, CA 85914,
    An Affiliate of Charity International. Arena Complex Km 18 Route de Rufisque,
    I.P.P Award Department, United Kingdom.
    DR. ALLEN SMITH,
    (Z0NAL CO-CORDINATOR)
    MOBILE NUMBER +448719744204
    FAX +447014236155
 
    
    CONGRATULATIONS!
    ===============================
    We happily announce to you the draw of 2012 Euro-Afro Asian Sweepstakes Lottery International Program held in United Kingdom. Your E-mail address attached to draw number: FD559/SL/7443465/05 with serial number: 652-662 and draw Luky number: 5341802-560 which subsequently won you lottery in the 3rd category of file number: FA1305U-ID. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of GBP 500,000.00 (Five  Hundred  Thousand Great British  Pounds ) in Cheque.
    All participants in this lottery program were selected randomly through a computer ballot system, drawn from individual email addresses from all search engines. Your e-mail address was picked by the automated computer ballot system, which has been programed for this random selection. This has eventually qualified you for the Winning.This promotional program takes place annually, and is promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities, Sultan of Brunei, Bill Gates of Microsoft Inc.With the support of European corporate companies and organizations to encourage the use of Internet and computers worldwide. in cashcredited to file KTU/9023118308/03.
    YOUR ADDRESS HAS WON (500,000,00 GBP)
  
    Please note that your lucky winning Number falls within  UK representative's booklet  as indicated in your file number: FA1305U-ID. In view of this, your 500,000.00 GBP. Cheque would be released to you by BARCLAY'S BANK, it will be immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your cheque as soon as you contact DR. DAVID MICHEL, Barclay's Bank director office here in the UK.
    Please contact the payment bank for your claim with the following details below to enable the speedy evaluation and processing of your winning:
 
    1 Name----------------------------------------------------------
    2 Home address------------------------------------
    3 Telephone Number---------------------
    4 Age--------------------------------------
    5 Occupation-------------------
    6 lucky number------------
    7 Serial number--------
    8 File number-----
    9 Draw number ----
 
    E-mail: (barclaysbankplc@ovi.com).
 
    For security purposes and clarity we advice that you keep your winning informations confidential, and not to be disclosed to anyone until your claim have been fully processed and your winning cheque delivered to you. BE WARNED!
    Your winning details can only be released to your fiduciary agent who will commence the process of your winning, this is to avoid wrong and double claim, it is also part of our security protocol to avoid unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous element you will make your claim but not later than one month and two weeks grace period from the date you received winning notification.
    In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications make sure that your winning details are quoted correctly in all correspondence. We advice that you adhere strictly to these procedures to avoid disqualifications and subsequent cancellation. The above detailed information will be absolutely necessary to facilitate the process of your winning cheque. Once again, please Note that this winning is valid for (14) fourteen days and grace period of (7) seven days, failure to issue claims after this period, your cheque will be automatically voided.
   
    CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN!
 
    Yours Faithfully,
    Allen Smith.

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