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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: "FREE LOTTO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <david.ford@9.cn>
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 01:10:35 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS(YOU ARE A FREE LOTTO WINNER)!!!

CONGRATULATIONS(YOU ARE A FREE LOTTO WINNER)!!!

After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address emerged as a winner with the following numbers attached Ticket Number: FF 4402/70091.

You are therefore to receive a cash prize of $2,500,000.00. (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).
You are advised to contact our Accredited claims agent with the information below:

Name: David Ford
Phone: +44 701 112 7907, +44 701 113 0937
Email: davidford.agent@yahoo.com

You are advice to provide him with the following information:

FULL NAMES:
AGE:
COUNTRY:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
TICKET NUMBER:

Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

Yours Faithfully,

Richard Jones.
Lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources: