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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: "lottery winners" <lotterywinnersdept@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 23:05:28 +0000
Subject: Winning Notification.

BRITISH AMERICAN LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS:
CUSTOMER SERVICE,
*******************************************
REGENT'S PARK,LONDON NW1 4NS,UNITED KINGDOM
*******************************************
Ref: BAL/198243108/05/DON
Batch: 15/00/4774

Attn: Winner

We happily announce to you the draw of the British American Lottery
International programs held on the 22nddecember 2005 in London. Your e-mail
address attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number
19445/02 drew the lucky numbers: 23-6-89-16-00-1, which subsequently won you
the lottery in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved to claim a
total sum of US$2,500,000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand, United
States Dollars) in cash credited to file
BAL/19823108/05/DON.

This is from a total cash prize of US$80,000.000.00 (Eighty Million United
State Dollars) shared amongst the first fifty five (55) lucky winners in
this category."B" This year Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever for
British Lottery. The estimated $80 Million jackpot would be the
sixth-biggest in U.K. history. The biggest was the $373 Million jackpot that
went to two winners in January, 2004 drawing of The Big Game Mega Millions'
predecessor.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet
representative office in Europe as indicated in our play coupon. In view of
this, your US$2,500,000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand, United
States Dollars) would be released to you physically by our affiliate Bank.
Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of
your funds to you as soon as you make contact with him.

All participants were selected randomly from 'World Wide Web' site through
computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 companies.

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. This is a part of our precautionary measure
to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by
someunscrupulous elements.

Please be warned. To file for your claim, please contact your claims agent
with the below details for processing of your claims and endeavor to list
out your winning numbers when filing your claim.
**************************************************
Name: mr.paulvanroy
Tel: +447023051463,+447023051465
E-mail:mr_vanroy@yahoo.de
Foreign Services Manager, Payment and Release order Department,
TRANS-ATLANTIC S.A LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
*************************************************
Note that all claims process and clearance procedures must be duly completed
early to avoid impersonation arising to the issue of double claim.


To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your
reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with us or our designated
agent.

Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program.

Yours Faithfully,
Adams Smith.

British Lottery Commission Coordinator.


From: British American Lottery Commission


Anti-fraud resources: