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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: "SWISS-LOTTO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rev.andrejones1@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 16:22:40 -0800
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU HAVE WON $1,000,000.00USD

CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU HAVE WON $1,000,000.00USD
SWISS-LOTTO
101 WIGMORE STREET LONDON,
GREATER LONDON WIU,
UNITED KINGDOM
http://www.swisslotto.ch
 
Dear Lucky Winner,
 
Today being 22nd November 2013 we are delighted to inform you that you have been awarded the sum of $1,000,000.00USD in the quarter final of the year 2013 SWISS-LOTTO PROMO Satellite Software email lottery in which e-mail addresses are picked randomly by Software powered by the internet through the worldwide website.
 
Your email address was amongst those chosen this year for the SWISS-LOTTO Satellite lottery which is fully based on an electronic selection of winners using their e-mail addresses from some sites. And this promotional program is proudly sponsored by the SWISS-LOTTO organization.
 
All participants were selected through a computer balloting system drawn from Nine Hundred Thousand E-mail addresses from Canada, Australia, United States, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Oceania as part of our international promotion program which is conducted annually. Your email address attached to Ref number: SWL-05013/BLUSD with Serial Batch: 7050470902/601, and consequently won the lottery in the "A" Category. You have therefore been approved the lump sum pay out of $1,000,000.00USD. Number:MML-43668 drew the lucky.
 
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our London Booklet representative. In View of this, your winning prize will be released to you by our fiduciary agent located In London United Kingdom .Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your winning funds As soon as you contact him.
 
This promotion takes place annually for security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning details confidential till your claims is processed and your winning funds 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 d abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:
 
Agent name: Rev. Andre Jones
Email: rev.andrejones@yahoo.com.hk
Direct Tell: +447045718306
 
Provide him with the information as stated below:
(1) Name:
(2) Address:
(3) Marital:
(4) Age:
(5) Sex:
(6) Nationality:
(7) Occupation:
(8) Telephone Number:
 
These details facilitate the due process and the release of winnings to avoid unnecessary delays and complications in the processing of your  Winnings. Note: all winnings MUST be claimed before the 10th December 2013 otherwise all funds will be returned as Unclaimed and eventually donated to charity organizations. Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program.
 
Sincerely,
Ms. Daniela Wagner
Online Games Director
SWISS-LOTTO

Anti-fraud resources: