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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:06:03 +0000
Subject: ATTENTION

SWEEPSTAKES ONLINE LOTTERY
Batch: R3/A312-59
Ref : LSUK/2031/8161/06
(Customer Service)

Please be informed that your e-mail address just won for you a prize from our
2nd category, You are therefore been approved to claim a total sum of
£850,000.00 (Eight Hundred And Fifty Thousand, Pounds Sterlings) in cash
credited to file.To file for your claims and further explanation, Please send
your reply to our VALIDATING OFFICER with the below details required for
immediate validating of your winnings. Contact him via e-mail below:

On contacting our Validating Officer you are to provide the below information:

FULL NAME,CONTACT ADDRESS,STATE/CITY,COUNTRY,NATIONALITY,
OCCUPATION,SEX, AGE AND PHONE NUMBER.

VALIDATING OFFICER
Name: Sir Alex Moore
Email: sweepstakesclaims@hotmail.com
Tele: +44 704 5752 265
+44 704 5720 293

Regards,
Mrs Rose Hughes
Online Coordinator for Sweepstakes Online Promo

Anti-fraud resources: