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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: "Sympatico/ msn Lottery" <msnlotteryclaimsadmin2005@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 09 Jan 2006 08:14:18 +0000
Subject: MSN DELIVERY

Dear David Lee Aschenbrenner,

we just resumed on the 3rd of January and we want you to know here that we have entered your package with UPS for delivery and has been scheduled for shipping. Here is your UPS TRACKING #:  1Z 80A 1Y1 66 9977 4984, The cost of mailing has been paid in full by us, however we require you  insure the check before it can be shipped to you, because it is our policy to always make sure that our Lucky winner insured their winning check before it can be send as we would not be held liable for any loss of this document, and this is our policy at MSN/SYMPATICO LOTTERY.

The cost of insurance to have your check sent to you is given below:
Processing fees $80
Insurance:        $315.00
Vat:                  $ 15.00
TOTAL:              $410.00

The total cost to have your check delivered to you as scheduled in the mail sent to you is $410.00.

All payments are to be made out to our receiving officer in London:
THOMAS ANDREW
90 Hardinge Road
NW1 9UB
London.

Payments should be made via western union money transfer out to THOMAS ANDREW and the transfer details sent to us for verification, upon receipt of the payments for the insurance, your check will be delivered to you with 2 working day, we want you to get your winning check along side your award winning certificate this year, that is if you are able to pay your fee today or tomorrow.

Regards,
MSN!!! Mail Team

Anti-fraud resources: