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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: freeweblotto@webmail.co.za
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 15:04:08 +0200
Subject: congratulations

FROM: THE DESK OF THE CLAIMS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
EGS/255125/04 AND BATCH NO: 14/0017/IPD

ATTENTION: OUR LUCKY WINNER

RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today, 14TH DEC.04, of winners of the FREE WEB LOTTO SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY held on 11th Dec 2004 as part of our first quarter bonanza. Your ID, attached to ticket number 025-1146-1992-750, with serial number 2113-05 drew the lucky numbers 13-15-22-37-39-43, and consequently won the lottery in the 2nd category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$3 500,000.00 in cash credited to file REF NO. EGS/255125/04. This is from total prize money of US$21.000.000,00 shared among the six international winners in this category. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 names from Middle East, Asia, Africa, Canada, Europe and North America as part of our International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your fund is now deposited with a Financial and Security House insured in your name. Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program.

We hope with a part of you prize, you will participate in our end of year high stakes US$20.Million
International Lottery.

To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent:
MR GEORGE VUSI,
FOREIGN SERVICES MANAGER
TEL/FAX+ 27 73 609 4007
EMAIL: geovusi@financier.com

For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice.

Remember, you must contact your claim agent not later than 30th of dec 2004.After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed. NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your correspondences with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible,
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.

Sincerely,

THE CLAIMS MANAGER, FREE WEB LOTTO SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY.

N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification. Contact your claim agent immediately. Do not reply this mail, Contact your Claim officer on fax number provided above. No persons under the age of 18 is allowed






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