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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: "Dr.Leslie Spears" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <customercare@bryam-adam.co.cc>
Date: Thu, 3 May 2012 20:11:35 +0100
Subject: POWERED BY MASTERCARD/MICROSOFT INTL.

®MASTERCARD/MICROSOFT®INTERNATIONAL
NEW YEAR Mega Winning Notification.
UK Office No 47 Se1 7na – Balking
London United Kingdom 24 hrs.
 
 
Dear email user,
 
Your email address was selected by MasterCard®Int'l/Microsoft®
 
Corporation UK. in the 2012 International New Year Winning Notification
 
through the Computerized Email  Balloting System in a database of
 
over one million emails, you have therefore been approved the sum
 
of 850,000.00,GBP(Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Great British Pounds)
 
You are advised to contact your Foreign Transfer Manager with the
following details to avoid unnecessary delay and complications
 
Transfer Manager:Bryam Adams.
Email:customercare@bryam-adam.co.cc
 
VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM.
(1) Your contact address.
(2) Your Tel/Fax numbers.
(3) Your Nationality/Country.
(4) Your Full Name.
(5) Occupation/Age.
(6) Your Preferred Method of Receiving Your Prize (From Below)
 
Mode Of Prize Remittance.
 
(1)Cash Pick-Up (You coming Down to United Kingdom Personally to Pick Your
Prize).
 
(2)Courier Delivery Of your Certified Winning Cheque Name and other Winning
Documents safely to you.
 
Congratulations from the Staffs & Members of MasterCard®/Microsoft®
International,Winning Notification.
 
Sincerely,
Dr.Leslie Spears
MasterCard®/Microsoft®
Winning Notification.
Copyright ©
 
 
 

Anti-fraud resources: