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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL LOTTERY" <dnl@dnl.org> (may be fake)
Reply-To: world1@di-ve.com
Date: Thu, 25 Nov 2004 11:54:27 -0800
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION - CONGRTULATION WINNER

WORLD WIDE NATIONAL LOTTERY
DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL LOTTERY
DNL LOTTERY AGENCY
SUB-REGIONAL HEAD QUARTERS
ACCRA GHANA.
12/14 MINISTRY WAY
ACCRA GHANA.
WINNING NOTIFICATION:
WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE TO YOU THE DRAW OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL LOTTERY (DNL) IN AFFILIATION
WITH THE WORLD WIDE NATIONAL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAMS HELD ON THE 5TH OF AUGUST IN ACCRA GHANA; IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE WEST AFRICAN MONETARY INSTITUTE A
TICKET NUMBER: 310878GH445EY ATTACHED TO YOUR E-MAIL
ADDRESS WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY WON YOU THE LOTTERY IN THE
3RD CATEGORY.
YOU HAVE THEREFORE BEEN APPROVED TO CLAIM A TOTAL SUM
OF US$2,000,000.00 (TWO MILLION UNITED STATES
DOLLARS). THIS IS FROM A TOTAL CASH PRIZE OF
US$20,000,000.00(TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS,
SHARED AMONGST THE FIRST TEN (10)LUCKY WINNERS IN THIS
CATEGORY.
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR LUCKY WINNING NUMBER FALLS
WITHIN OUR AFRIAN BOOKLET REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE IN
ACCRA GHANA (AFRICA)
AS INDICATED IN YOUR PLAY COUPON.
IN VIEW OF THIS, YOUR US$2,000,000.00 (TWO MILLION
UNITED STATES
DOLLARS) WOULD BE RELEASED TO YOU BY OUR DEPARTMENT OF
NATIONAL LOTTERY AGENCY (OFFICE) IN ACCRA GHANA
AFRICA. OUR AFRICA AGENT WILL IMMEDIATELY COMMENCE THE
PROCESS TO FACILITATE THE RELEASE OF YOUR FUNDS AS
SOON AS YOU CONTACT HIM.
ALL PARTICIPANTS WERE DRAWN FROM THE WORLD WIDE WEB
(WWW) SITE AND EMAIL ADDRESSES EXTRACTED FROM OVER
100,000 INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES INTERNET SITES.TEN
LUCKY WINNER WOULD/IS SELECTED THROUGH COMPUTERISED
BALLOTING SYSTEM.
PLEASE NOTE THAT TICKET NUMBERS WERE ATTACHED TO EACH
EMAIL ADDRESS AND WERE RANDOMLY PICKED BY THE
COMPUTERISED BALLOTING SYSTEM TO EMERGE THE TEN LUCKY
WINNERS.
FOR SECURITY REASONS, YOU ARE ADVISED TO KEEP YOUR
WINNING INFORMATION
CONFIDENTIAL TILL YOUR CLAIMS IS PROCESSED AND YOUR
MONEY REMITTED TO YOU IN WHATEVER MANNER YOU DEEM FIT
TO CLAIM YOUR
PRIZE. THIS IS PART OF OUR PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE TO
AVOID DOUBLE CLAIMING AND UNWARRANTED ABUSE OF THIS
PROGRAM BY SOME UNSCRUPULOUS ELEMENTS; PLEASE BE
WARNED.
TO FILE IN FOR YOUR CLAIM, PLEASE CONTACT OUR AFRICA
AGENT: MR.CARL DAVID ON EMAIL:
webco@mail2agent.com <mailto:webco@mail2agent.com> or webco@fastermail.com <mailto:webco@fastermail.com>
TO AVOID UNNECESSARY DELAYS AND COMPLICATIONS, YOU ARE
TO CONTACT MR. CARL DAVID WITH THE FOLLOWINGS DETAILS
BELOW:
1. YOUR FULL NAMES, TELEPHONE, CONTACT ADDRESS AND
2. QUOTE YOUR TICKET NUMBER IN ANY CORRESPONDENCES
WITH US OR OUR DESIGNATED AGENT.
CONGRATULATIONS, ONCE MORE FROM ALL MEMBERS AND STAFFS
OF THIS PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR PROMOTIONAL LOTTERY
PROGRAM.
SINCERELY,
DR. PETER GRAY
ZONAL COORDINATOR




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