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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: GLOBAL MEGA LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL <megalottonl@netscape.net>
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 18:26:52 +0200
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION.

FROM: THE DESK OF THE LOTTO CHANCELLOR.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.

REF: KIY/47560460037/02.
BATCH: 24/23519/YHI

ATTENTION: RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE
We are pleased to inform you today 25th of April 2005 that you have been selected as a winner in the
REAL EXCHANGE LOTTO PROMO ,THE GLOBAL MEGA LOTTERY INT.,PROGRAMS held in
Amsterdam The Netherlands on the 20th of February 2005.Winners where selected through a computer
ballot system from generated individual and company emails from search engine. Your company/Your
email, is attached to ticket number 023-5876-790-279, with serial number 3673-10 drew the lucky
numbers 43-14-42-37-69-25, and consequently won the lottery in the first category.You have therefore
been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$800 000:00 in cash credited to file REF: KIY
/47560460037/02. This is from total prize money of US$20,000,000.00 shared among the 25
international winners in this category. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system
drawn from 300,000 names from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe, North America, Asia, and
Africa as part of International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.
CONGRATULATIONS! Your fund is now deposited with a Finance 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$5.7 Million Netherlands
International Lottery.

To begin your claim, please contact our international claims agent:
Mr. LARZ DEMAN.
EMAIL:larzdeman@netscape.net
TEL: + 31 616 106 314
INTERNATIONAL CO ORDINATOR.

For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice.
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than May 24th, 2005. 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 the
agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claim's agent as soon as
possible.
Congratulations again from all our staff.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Brigit Willem.
THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER, GLOBAL MEGA LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification.
Participants below the age of 18 are automatically disqualified.


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