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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "JAMES OLIVER" <james_oliver22@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 08 Oct 2005 10:06:25 +0000
Subject: UK-LOTTERY ORGANIZATION.

UK-LOTTERY ORGANIZATION.
                                AFFILIATE OF INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY ORGANIZATION
 
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
+44-70318-47544.
+44-70319-12838
 
WINNING NOTIFICATION:

 
We happily announce to you the draw of the U.k Lotto Organization's online draws and sweepstake programs held in LONDON UK, on the 29th of September, 2005. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:56475600545188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers:07-12-23-26-29-44 which subsequently won you the lottery in the first category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of GBP£2,367,834 (Two million, three hundred and sixty seven thousand, eight hundred and thirty four British Pounds sterling) in cash credited to file ktu/9023118308/03. This is from a total cash prize of GBP£23,678,340 shared amongst the first Ten (10) lucky winners in this category.
 
All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer online draw system and extracted from over 100,000 companies. The below courier company has been given the contract to deliver all our winners check from the first to last category.
 
ZIP SPEED POST COMPANY LTD
Suite 26
The London Fruit Exchange
Brushfield Street
London E1 6EU
Contact Agent: Mr. John Henry (Director of Operations and Logistics)
Email address: zipspeedpost@walla.com

 
You are to contact Mr. John Henry on the above email address for quick delivery of your Uk-Lotto certfied winnings cashiers check. To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, quote your full names, your country, contact telephone and mobile numbers, complete winning details(Ref,Batch, Serial, Ticket, File, Lucky numbers) and address where you want to receive your check in your contact mail to Mr. John Henry and note that this is not a joke neither is it a childs play and it is 100% for real. Do not be scared of anything happening to your winnings check with the ZIP SPEED POST COMPANY LTD as the check is such that no sum can be deducted from it till it gets to your address and deposited in any bank of your choice in your country or any in any part of the world for onward payment by the bank.
 
For safety measures and to avoid fruadulent claims you are adviced to keep all about your winnings information and notification confidential and away from all third parties till your check arrives your address.
 
Congratulations once more from all the members and staffs of this program.
 
Sincerely,
Mr James Oliver.
Online Co-ordinator, U.k Lotto Organization
Sweepstakes International Program.

Anti-fraud resources: