419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: Chevrolet Lottery <no-reply@chevrolet.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: chevroletcdpt@live.co.uk
Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 19:24:40 -0400
Subject: AWARD SUM OF =?UTF-8?Q?=C2=A3=35=30=30=2C=30=30=30=2E=30=30=20FROM=20CHEV?=
=?UTF-8?Q?ROLET=20UK=20LTD=2E?=

--
CHEVROLET ONLINE LOTTERY
Chevrolet UK Ltd.
UK1-101-135
Osborne Road
Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 3YT.
United Kingdom.

WINNING NOTIFICATION
This is to inform you that you have been selected to receive the award sum
of Â£500,000.00 (Five hundred Thousand pounds sterling) from the Chevrolet
2009 award Donation. All beneficiaries email addresses were selected from
email account service providers(e.g Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail, and other
private and government email account providers).

To claims your funds please contact us at chevroletcdpt@live.co.uk
You are advised to contact us with the following details to avoid
unnecessary delay and complications:

VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM.
(1) Your contact address.
(2) Your Tel/Fax numbers.
(3) Your Nationality/Country.
(4) Your Full Names.
(5) sex
{6} Age.
{7}Occupation
Do not click on reply to this message, you are to forward all
correspondence to our Claims Department(chevroletcdpt@live.co.uk) for
processing of funds release.

Congratulations from members and staff of Chevrolet UK Ltd.

Announcer,
Larissa Hileman,
Public Affairs & Protocols,
Chevrolet Online Lottery.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam