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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: "Hugh" <carol@eubrus.zzn.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2005 21:35:11 -0700
Subject: This is greatCitnx

Hello

LOTTERY NATIONALE
VANBUNDA 18, 1529 HD,
LEEUWARDEN,
NETHERLANDS.
FILE REFERENCE NO: PP2005-011-MLI
BATCH: 1605/005NL
TO WINNERS IN OUR PROGRAM,
We wish to congratulate you over your success in our computer balloting sweepstake held on 10th July 2005. This is a scientific computer game in which email addresses were used.
It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging internet users; therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it. However, your email address was attached to ticket number 162-3471913; with ref number CBG-19074 draw the lucky numbers 1-9-74-31, which eventually won the lottery in the first category of the draws.
This entitled to a cash award of $1, 500,000.00 (ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND USD). This is from total prize money of US$30,000,000.00 distributed to winners from 1st to 3rd categories.
Note that this program was promoted and sponsored by a group of industrialists from the internet ware industry.
To begin your claim, please send your ticket number, your names, lucky numbers and ref number to the claims coordinator:
Andrew Mully
Email address: nationale@eubrus.zzn.com
TEL: +31 616 694 927
Yours Faithfully,
Evelyn Hugh

Anti-fraud resources: