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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: "Better Days Lottery" <betterdays_lotto@msn.com>
Reply-To: betterdays_team@telkom.net
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2005 22:29:22 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION

Better Days International Lottery
20 Craven Park, Harlesden
London NW10
United Kingdom

Ref: BTD/968/05
Batch: 409978PG

Dear Sir/Madam,

WINNING NOTIFICATION

Over the years the prestigious Better Days lottery has set out
and sucessfully organised Sweepstakes on a daily, weekly, and annual
basis.
We have equally maintained a standard unrivaled in the industry as it
concerns the pay out of winnings to sucessful participants.

In line with the commemorating event marking our 10th year anniversary
we rolled out over £2,000.000.00 (Two million Great Britain Pounds)
for our 10th year Anniversary Draws. Participants for the draws were
randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of web hosts which enjoy
our patronage. The selection was made through a computer draw system
attaching personalised email addresses to ticket numbers.

Your email address as indicated was drawn and attached to ticket
number 008795727498 with serial numbers BTD/9080648302/06 and drew
the lucky numbers 14-21-25-39-40-47(20) which subsequently won you
£250,000.00 (Two Hundred and fifty Thousand Great Britain Pounds) as
one of the 10 jackpot winners in this draw.
You have therefore won the entire winning sum of £250,000.00
(Two Hundred and fifty Thousand Great Britain Pounds). The draws
registered as Draw number one was conducted in Brockley, London
United Kingdom on the 18th of November 2005.
These lottery Draws are commemorative and as such special.

Please be informed by this winning notification to make contact with
your designated agent who shall by duty guide you through the process
to facilitate the release of your winnings.

To file for your claim Please Contact your fiduciary agent
Mr. Michael Robinson
Better Days Fiduciary Agent
Tel: +44-703-194-1117
Fax: +44-870-135-4484
Email:betterdays_team@telkom.net

You are advised to contact your fiduciary agent with the following
details to avoid unnecessary delays and complications.
Your Name (in Full), Country, Ticket Number, Batch Number, Serial
Number and Lucky Numbers as indicated in this winning Notification.
For further clarification/verification of your claims, Please call on
our
official number as stated in notification e-mail.

I wish to on behalf of all Members and Staff of the Better Days
International Lottery congratulate you on your win and wish you the
best of luck as you spend your good fortune.

Thank you for being part of our commemorative 10th Anniversary Draws.

Sincerely,

Dr. Richard Swepston
Better Days Lottery Co-ordinator.
NB:
PLEASE NOTE! Any claim not made before seven (7) working days from date
of notification will indicate that the winner has voluntarily forfeited
his/her winnings.


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