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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: "MR.KEVIN WILLIAMS" <gops.skulsk@neostrada.pl>
Reply-To: kevin03310@yahoo.com.mx
Date: Sat, 09 Apr 2011 22:42:29 +0800
Subject: Re: Winner Blackberry Online PROMOTION

Blackberry Online Promotion=20
FILE REF: HL/5564/06/09/MICS
BATCH: MC11/934/5PDH /EU
Claims Security Code: BLSC-75562009-LV-UK=20

Congratulations!!! You are a winner of =A3500,000.00 GBP from Blackbe=
rry Lottery 2011 promotion picked randomly by computerised email ad=
dress balloting.=20
To claim your prize, please contact:

FOREIGN PAYMENT MANAGER
MR.KEVIN WILLIAMS
Phone: +447031867449 or 00447031867449

Sincerely,
Sarah Catherine.
M.D


Anti-fraud resources: