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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: microsoftlotto1@zipmail.com.br
Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2005 11:50:14 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?CONGRATULATIONS=20YOU=20HAVE=20WON=21=21=21?=

MICROSOFT LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL - PROMOTIONAL PROGRAM
DDRESS: DAALWIJK 813, 1102 AA,
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS.
REF: MLI/PP2005-001
BATCH: 5300/P25/FC
ATTENTION:

RE AWARD NOTIFICATION / PROCESSING ADVICE: MLI


TO WINNERS IN OUR PROGRAM

We wish to congratulate you over your success in our computer balloting
sweepstake held on 30th March 2005.

This is a MICROSOFT LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL computer game in which email addresses
were used. It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging internet users;
therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it. However, your email
address was attached to ticket number 10CBG3471913; with serial number 190034
draw the lucky numbers 1-9-7-4-31, which eventually consequently won the
lottery in the first category of the draws. This entitled to a cash award
of US$ 2, 500,000.00 (TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS). This
is from total prize money of US$30,000,000.00 distributed to winners from
1st to 3rd categories.

Note that this program was largely promoted and sponsored by a group of
philanthropist, industrialists from the internet ware industry and some
other big multinational firms who wish to be anonymous.

To begin your claim, please contact us back for your processing:

Kind Regards.
MRS. MIRJAM VAN BUREN
DIRECTOR OF PROMOTIONAL PROGRAM







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