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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. Eric Schmidt" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <claims151departmentuk@live.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2012 23:40:04 +0100
Subject: HAPPY GOOGLE ANNIVERSARY

Google Corporation Manchester]
Peter House Oxford Street
Manchester M4 6AN
United Kingdom.
 
HAPPY GOOGLE ANNIVERSARY.
 
On the 4th of September 1998, Google was incorporated as a privately held company. Google Corporation is one company that earns its profit mainly from
advertising using their very own Google search engine, Gmail , Gala, Sify, e-mail service Google Maps, Google Apps, Orkut social networking and YouTube video
sharing, which are all offered to the public for free.
 
We wish to congratulate you once again, for being selected as a winner in the ongoing Google Anniversary Promotion. Hence we do believe with your prize, you
will continue to be active in your patronage to Google. A Bank Draft will be issued in your name by the Google Promotion Board, you have therefore won the
entire sum of £950,000.00GBP {Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Great British Pounds} and also a certificate of claim price will be sent alongside your Bank
Draft.
 
 
CONTACT CLAIMS OFFICE:
 
 
Google Promotion Board
Dr. Micheal Albert
Email:claims151departmentuk@live.com
Tel: (44) 703 594 4119
 
Do e-mail the Claims office at once with the Verification and Funds release form below for validation of your prize and to avoid unnecessary delay.
 
 
VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM.
 
Residential Address
Tel (Mobile):
Nationality/Country:
Full Name:
Age/Sex:
Occupation/Position:
What is your comment on Google?
Amount Won:
Ever won an online lottery:
 
 
You are advised to contact the Claims Office with the following details (Ref No: GCS/CPL/0855, Batch: GUK/699/33/0417).
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims are processed and your money remitted to you. This is
part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned.
Congratulations from the Staffs & Members of Google Board Commission.
 
 
Dr. Eric Schmidt.
 
 
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.
©2012 Google Corporation.

Anti-fraud resources: