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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: "Mr. Brian Whitaker" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <desmondpadock02@citromail.hu>
Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2019 08:20:19 -0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS !!! YOU HAVE WON A PCH LOTTO,LUCKY WINNING NUMBERS.

This is HTML source of message you composed. Do not modify here. To modify this message press HTML Messages Editor button.
PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE (PCH).
101 WINNERS CIRCLE.
JERICHO, NY 11753.
(Customer Services)
Ref No: PCH/9420X2/68
Batch No: 074/05/ZY369
 
                     RE: PCH WINNING NOTIFICATION.
 
We happily announce to you the draw (#1198) of the PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE (PCH) LOTTERY, online Sweepstakes International program held on Friday, 24th of May 2019.
 
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/06 drew the lucky numbers: 08-17-33-41-43-45 (bonusno.37), which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e. match5 plus bonus. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of Six hundred and fifty thousand United States dollars ($650,000.00USD) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03.
 
This is from a total cash prize of Four Million, Five Hundred and Fifty United States dollars ($4,550,000.00USD) shared amongst the (7)lucky winners in this category i.e. Match 5 plus bonus. 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 listed online.
 
However, no tickets were sold but all email addresses were assigned to different ticket numbers for representation and privacy. And the selection process was carried out through random selection in our computerized email selection machine (TOPAZ).
 
This promotion takes place every third quarter of the year. Please note that your lucky winning numbers falls within our draw booklet representative office as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your Six hundred and fifty thousand United States dollars ($650,000.00USD) would be released to you by any of our payment offices here in the States. 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.
 
CLAIMS PROCEDURES:
 
It is our standard practice to allocate accredited agents for the processing of claims application. It is even more imperative for overseas winners. To begin your claims therefore, you are advised as a matter of urgency, to contact the under listed licensed and accredited claims agent for the processing of your prize awards winning.
 
Please contact the clearing house (through your claims agent) the body assigned with the verification of all emergent winner :
 
 
Desmond Padock
Official Email: desmondpadock02@citromail.hu
 
 
 
 
For payment, please do provide with the following information:
 
1. Full Names:
2. Address:
3. Age:
4. Sex:
5. Marital Status:
6. Occupation:
7. Nationality:
8. Driver's id (front/back copy) /International Passport:
9. Home Telephone:
10. Mobile phone:
 
 
Congratulations once more from our members of staff !
 
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Mr. Brian Whitaker
 
Online coordinator for PCH
INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
Copyright Sweepstakes International Program.
 

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