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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: "steve hardy" <mexicowinning_agent@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 21:50:44 +0000
Subject: AWARD/WINNING CLAIM NOTIFICATION.

New Mexico Lottery Headquarters:
Palais Des Nations,
109 Geneva 14,
Switzerland.
10TH JAN.2006

                   AWARD/WINNING NOTIFICATION.

The members and sponsors happily announce to you the draw of the New
Mexico Lottery programs held on the 1st of january 2006 in Melbourne,
Australia. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 2247887653 which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category.

All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site
through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 individuals and companies. The Lottery teams up with local companies and media partners to promote Lottery products, and informs citizens on where the proceeds from Lottery ticket sales go.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of 1,000,000
EURO(ONE MILLION EURO) in cash. This is from a total cash prize of FIFTY THREE MILLION EURO,shared amongst the first hundred (53) lucky winners in this category.

A statewide focus is taken on most large promotions, and the Lottery
works with local companies, such as Pepsi and IBM, in "co-promotional"
partnerships. These partnerships help each company introduce new products to customers. This promotion takes place annually. 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.

This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned. In view of this, your 1,000,000 EURO(ONE MILLION EURO) would be released to you by our Security firm. To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary/Claims Agent:

Name: Dr Jimmy Brown
Email: Agentjimmy_brown@yahoo.com

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, you are to contact Dr
Jimmy Brown with followings details below:
1. Your full names,telephone,contact address
2. quote your Ticket number in any correspondences with us or our
designated agent. Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him.

The Lottery is strongly committed to maintaining the privacy of
personal information that is gathered from the use of its web site and web services. The following statement discloses the Lottery's privacy policy and its information gathering/dissemination practices.

The Lottery will not release personal information to third parties
except where it is already provided by law. Depending on the specific nature of the service, information may be shared with other state agencies as stated in the Open Records Act.
This statute allows for the exchange of public records or sharing of
information between public agencies when the exchange is serving a legitimate governmental need or is necessary in the performance of a legitimate government function.

E-mail addresses or other information that is obtained as a result of
interacting with the Colorado Lottery web site will be used for the benefit of the Lottery and will not be sold to third party companies except as required by the Open Records Act. The Lottery will not share personal information with any private party,except as required by the Open Records Act.

Sincerely,
Caroline Bryan
(Zonal Coordinator)

NB
please contact our
fiduciary/Claims Agent:
Name: Dr Jimmy Brown

Email:Agentjimmy_brown@yahoo.com
Email:Agentbrown8@excite.com

Anti-fraud resources: