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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: "BRITISH LOTTERY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barristerjimy@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2010 11:53:22 +0100
Subject: Urgent Reply

BRITISH LOTTERY
The Lottery Company
PO Box 200
Harrogate
HG1 2YR
PHONE NO-00447031967944

YOU HAVE WON 250,000 POUNDS STERLING

Our Dear Winner,

You have won the sum of ?’250,000 (TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND,POUNDS STERLING ) from BRITISH LOTTERY on our 2010 new year charity bonanza. The winning ticket was selected from a Data Base Manual Users, from which your Address came out as one of the winning coupon.

We hereby urge you to claim the winning amount quickly as this is a monthly lottery. Failure to claim your win will result into the reversion of the fund to our following month. You are therefore requested to contact immediately out Claims Department below quoting winning number : CODE NUMBER-043784902501BL.

Contact: BARRISTER JIMY
Email: barristerjimy@yahoo.co.uk

Provide the following information needed to process your winning claim.
(a) Your full Name and Address.
(b) Your Telephone and fax numbers
(c) I.D.Number (if any)
(d) Your contry of origin

Congratulations once again.

Note: We shall pay your claims through our offshore online bank please contact our helpdesk urgently for comfirmation. please quote your winning number.

Best Regards,

BRITISH LOTTERY
The Lottery Company
England

Anti-fraud resources: