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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: "uk lottery" <uklottery@winningupdates.com>
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 12:04:01 +0000
Subject: WINNING UPDATE..CONGRATULATIONS!!

UK-LOTTO Headquarters:
The Marina Offices,
St Peters Yacht Basin,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1HX
England
Customer Service
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369

WINNING NOTIFICATION:
We happily announce to you the draw of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY, online
Sweepstakes International program held on Saturday 27th Aug, 2005 in
LIVERPOOL UNITED-KINGDOM. Your e-mail address attached to ticket
number:56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky
numbers: 06 . 19 . 24 . 26 . 27 . 49 . [08] Bonus Ballwhich subsequently won
you the lottery in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved to
claim a total sum of US$2,500,000.00 (Two million,Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars) in cash credited to file ktu/9023118308/03.This is
from a total cash prize of $USD 25 Million dollars, shared amongst the first
Ten (10) lucky winners in this category.

All participants for the online version were selected randomly from
World Wide Web sites through computer draw system andextracted from over
100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online.
This promotion takes place annually. Please note that your lucky winning
number falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as
indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your$USD2,500,000 (two
million five hundred thousand dollars) will be released to you by any of our
payment offices in Europe.Our European agent will immediately commence the
process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him.

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information
confidential till your claim is processed and your money has been
remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your
prize.This is part of our precautionarymeasure to avoid double claiming
andunwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned. To file for your
claim, please contact our processing Agent:

MR.AlFRED TITI.
Email: processingagent_uk_hdq@yahoo.de

with your claims verification information:
FULL NAMES OF BENEFICIARY:........................
CONTACT ADDRESS:..................................
CITY/STATE:.......................................
COUNTRY:..........................................
NATIONALITY:......................................
SEX:.......................AGE:...................
TEL NO:...........................................
NEXT OF KIN:......................................
ANNUAL INCOME:....................................

AMOUNT WON:.......................................
REFENCE NO:................BATCH NO:..............
LUCKY NO:..................TICKET NO..............
SERIAL NO:.................LOTTERY DATE:..........

feel free to visit the online result site to confirm your winnings
numbers.<http://www.national-lottery.co.uk/player/p/results/results.do>Congratulations
once again from all members and staffs of this program. Thank you for being
part of our promotional lottery programs.

Sincerely,

MR PETE MORGAN.
Online coordinator for UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program


Anti-fraud resources: