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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: "Australia National Lottery" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <visualdispatchdeliveries90@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 02:38:37 -0600
Subject: New Winning Notification!!!

Dear lucky winner,
 
Congratulations, you are one of the lucky winners of Thursday 21st of August Australian lottery with Australia Powerball winning numbers (5, 7, 8, 19, 32, 40, Powerball: 12). You have won the total sum of US$6,397,300 in division 1 of the lottery games.
*Powerball winning numbers confirmation (http://australia.national-lottery.com/results/australia-powerball-results.asp).
 
Visual Dispatch Delivery Agency have been assigned to carry out the safe delivery of your certified bank check. Contact them via the stated directives below for claims.
 
Visual Dispatch Delivery Agency
1st division officer: Dr. Aaron Peterson
Email: visualdispatchdeliveries90@gmail.com
 
Information required for clearance and payment
 
Name: ……………………
Address: ……………………
Telephone number: ……………………
Gender: ……………………
Age: ……………………
Occupation: ……………………
 
Once more, congratulations
 
Sincerely,
Mrs. Mary Crawford
(Online director).

Anti-fraud resources: