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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: "Peter Edwards" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lizzymoore2013@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 03:25:51 -0000
Subject: Re:

FacebookLOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program.
(Customer Services)
Ref: Us/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
                                         WINNING NOTIFICATION:
We happily announce to you the draw (#1037) of the FacebookLOTTERY,online Sweepstakes International program held on 5th september 2013. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky number.
  which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e match 6 plus bonus.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of $1.000.000.00(one million us dallas) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03.This is from a total cash prize, All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listedonline. This promotion takes place weekly.
  In view of this, your $1.000.000.00(one million us dallas) would be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe. Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him.For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money  remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.
This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned. To file for your claim, please fill the enclosed form and send it by email to the FACEBOOKlottery paying officer for the processing of your claim with the informatin below :
Peter Edwards, Remittance Department Director,
==================================================================== THIS FORM SHOULD BE FILED BY THE FACEBOOK LOTTERTY WINNER OF THE STATED FUND FOR VERIFICATION BEFORE PROCESSING THE LOTTERY WINNING AND SEND TO THE PAYOUT OFFICER IN THE ABOVE EMAIL ADDRESS
FIRST NAME.............................................................................
LAST NAME:..............................................................................
RESIDENCIAL ADDRESS:...........................................................
OCCUPATION:..........................................................................
DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH:.....................................................
COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE:..........................................................
TEL NO:................................CELL NO:.......................................
FAX NO:..................................................................................
YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS:.............................................................
NEXT OF KIN NAME AND ADDRESS:..........................................
...............................................................................................
TICKET NUMBER:...................................................................
BATCH NUMBER:...................................................................
AMOUNT WON:......................................................................
EMAIL ADDRESS:..............................................................
I.......................................HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE
DATA ARE TRUE AND IN CASE OF ANY UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES MY NEXT OF KIN HAS RIGHT TO CLAIM MY TOTAL WINNING. GAL PROMOTIONS SHALL ACT AS MY AGENT IN FACILITATING THE TRANSFER OF MY FUNDS TO ME.
           
DATE:.......................................... SIGN:........................................
This process is vital and urgent following the instruction from our clients that all prize money should be claimed as soon as possible. Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, do remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all your correspondence with us.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible.
Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program.
 
Facebook LOTTERY.
Yours faithfully,
Sweepstakes International Program.

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