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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: "Susan Anderson" <susananderson_1@sympatico.ca>
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 04:30:02 +0000
Subject: Winning Notification{Lotto Bonus}

 UK NATIONAL LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS:
 P O Box 1010 Liverpool,
 L70 1NL UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
TEL:(+44)871 521 0204
Fax :(+44)845 280 6040
Email: uk_nationalclaims@excite.com
 
FROM: UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL LOTTERY.
WINNING NOTICE FOR CATEGORY "A" WINNER
 
BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION
Dear Lucky Winner,
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual final draws of UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL LOTTERY international Lottery programs. The online cyber lotto draws was conducted from an exclusive list of 21,000 e-mail addresses of individual and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random computer search from the internet, no tickets were sold. After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address emerged as one of two winners in the category "A" with the following winning information:
  • REF No: UKNL-L/200-26937
  • BATCH No: 2005MJL-01
  • TICKET No: 20511465463-7644
  • SERIAL No: S/N-00168
  • LUCKY No: 887-13-865-37-10-83
You as well as the other winner are therefore to receive a cash prize of £600,000. Pounds (six hundred  thousand pounds only) each from the total payout.
    Your prize award has been insured with your e-mail address and will be transferred to you upon meeting our requirements, statutory obligations, verifications, validations and satisfactory report. To begin the claims processing of your prize winnings you are advised to contact our licensed and accredited claims agent for category "A" winners with the information below:
    To file for your claim, please contact the processing agent;
    Mr Steven Moore
    TEL:(+44)871 521 0204
    Fax :(+44)845 280 6040
    NOTE: You are also required to indicate what means you would prefer your winning remitted to you, either:
    1. Your winner cheque couriered to you 
    2. You receive your winning by telegraphic transfer from our associate bank to your bank account.
    Remember to quote your reference information in all correspondence. You are to keep all lotto information away from the general public especially your reference and ticket numbers. (This is important as a case of double claims will not be entertained). Anybody under the age of 18 and members of the affiliate agencies are automatically not allowed to participate in this program.
    Please note;
    You are hereby advice to send us the following;
    1. Your full name and address
    2. Your personal phone and fax number, and
    3. Your winning numbers.
    4. Your Occupaton and Age
    5. Your Nationality and Country
    Reply to this confidential email account: uk_nationalclaims@excite.com
    Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program.
    Sincerely,
    Mrs. Susan Anderson.
    for UK NATIONAL LOTTERY.
    NOTE: You are to contact your claims officer immediately.

    Anti-fraud resources: