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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: "UK LOTTERY ORGANIZATION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrwilsonames01@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2013 15:53:40 +0100
Subject: Online Winning Notification Department

UK LOTTERY ORGANIZATION
TICKET FREE/ONLINE E-MAIL ADDRESS WINNINGS DEPARTMENT.

Are you the correct owner of this email address? If yes then be glad this day as the result of the UK lotto online e-mail address free-ticket winning draws of AUGUST 10th 2013 has just been released and we are glad to announce to you that your email address won you the sweepstakes in the first category and you are entitled to claim the sum of US$4.6Million.

Your email address was entered for the online draw on this ticket #:NDB2541097368 and won on this Lucky #:MX832654098 You are to contact Mr.Wilson James On the below email address for options on how to receive your won prize of US$4.6M. To enable Mr.Wilson James ascertain you as the rightful winner and receiver of the $4.6Million cheque, MAKE SURE you include the below listed information in your contact mail to him.

Contact information:Mr.Wilson James
Email: mrwilsonames01@gmail.com
Tel: +44-701-114-0355

Your complete official names, country of origin and country of residence/work, contact telephone and mobile numbers, address, amount won, free ticket and lucky numbers, date of draw. OPTIONAL: - [Sex, age, occupation and job title].

UK.L.O.
Online Winning Notification Department

Anti-fraud resources: