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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "ESPERANZA LOTTERY S.L." <esperanzalotto@iol.pt>
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 13:21:23
Subject: PRIZE WINNER NOTIFICATION!!!

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
ESPERANZA INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS
PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
CALLE LOPEZ DE HOYOS 213,
28003 MADRID,SPAIN.

*************************************************
CREDIT FILE NUMBERS
Ref. Number:NIL/67-B931062538
Batch Number:17/9803/5
*************************************************

RE: AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION: FINAL NOTICE.

We are pleased to inform you officially of the announcement today of
winners of the MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS, PROGRAMS held on 31st march
2005.Your company or your personal e-mail address, is attached to ticket
number 8976-2312-908-765, with serial number 2323-56 drew the lucky
numbers 367-21-546-43-02-91, and consequently won the lottery in the
second category.MARCH 2005.
You are therefore, been approved to claim a total sum of €860,750.00euros
(Eight hundred and sixty thousand seven hundred and fifty euros only)
in cash credited to Credited file Number:TCL06/01/767/35ES .This is from
a total cash prize of US €34,430.000 million euros, amonge the first 4th
lucky winners in this category.
Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
25,000 names/email addresses of individuals and companies from Australia,
New Zealand,America, Europe, North America and Asia, as part of
International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.
Your fund has been deposited in an escrow account and insured in your
name. Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep
this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been
processed and your money remitted to your account.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or
unscrupulous acts by participants of this program. We hope with a part
of your prize, you will participate in our year high stakes US$100.
Million International Lottery.

To claim your winning prize, you must first contact the claims
department by email:

**************************************************
Mrs. Flora Gray.
Email:floragray4@walla.com
**************************************************

For processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated
account of your choice. Remember, all prize money must be claimed not
later than a week of receiving this notification.All funds not claimed
on or before this time will be returned as unclaimed. NOTE: In order to
avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote
your reference and batch numbers telephone and fax numbers in all
correspondences with this office.

Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform us as
soon as possible.
Congratulations again from all our staff for being part of our
promotions program.

Sincerely,

Mrs Laura Ruiz Adolfo
For Esperanza lotto


N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will
result to,disqualification Anybody under the age of 18 cannot
participate in this program,Do not reply to this mail contact your
claims department for your claims.

Anti-fraud resources: