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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: "LOTTO@YAHOO-INC.COM" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <claims_agnt.mikewilliams@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 08:25:11 +0100
Subject: Re: Congratulations

Yahoo! Inc.
Head Office.
Customer Care .
125 Shaftesbury Avenue,
London, WC2H 8AD.
TEL: +44(704)5797666
 
Regional Office:
Yahoo Inc,
Plot 750 Aminu kano Crescent
Wuse 11
Abuja Nigeria
 
CONGRATULATIONS!!
 
Dear Lucky Winner,
 
YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS HAVE WON THE SUM OF $650,000.00 ONLINE YAHOO LOTTERY/ MICROSOFT ON-LINE PROMOTIONS.THIS PROMOTIONAL PROGRAM TAKES PLACE EVERY YEAR AND IS PROMOTED AND SPONSORED BY EMINENT PERSONALITIES LIKE THE SULTAN OF BRUNEI,BILL GATES OF MICROSOFT INC AND YAHOO LOTTERY INC!.
 
YOU ARE EXPECTED TO CONTACT THE CLAIMS CONSULTANT WHO IS CURRENTLY IN OUR REGIONAL OFFICE IN NIGERIA WITH THE DETAILS BELOW:
 
MR.MIKE WILLIAMS
E-mail Address: claims_agnt.mikewilliams@yahoo.com
E-mail Address: info_agent_lotoclaim@consultant.com
Phone: +234-803-266-0608
 
YOU ARE REQUIRED TO SEND THE INFORMATION BELOW TO HIM FOR CLAIMS AND MORE CLEARIFICATION :
 
1. FULL NAME................
2. TELEPHONE NUMBER.............
3. AGE..............
4. SEX...................
5. MARITAL STATUS.......
6. COUNTRY.............
7. RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:
8. OCCUPATION..............
9. INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT
 
Yahoo! UK & Ireland
This e-mail is from Yahoo! Head Office USA and approved by the Yahoo! UK
Ltd, 125 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8AD.
 
Copyright © 2014 Yahoo Inc!. All rights reserved

Anti-fraud resources: