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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: "Joe Hill" <ukwebaward@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 22:43:34 +0000
Subject: UK WEB LOTTERY AWARD NOTIFICATION!!!

UK WEB PROMO LOTTERY,
COVENTRY,UNITED KINGDOM.
REF.NO:UK/9420X2/68/305.
CATEGORY:3RD
LUCKY NO:43-11-44-37-10-48/05
AMOUNT WON:2,000,000.00 British Pounds Sterling.
ATTENTION: DEAR WINNER,
AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE.
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement of winners of the UK
WEB PROMO LOTTERY,UNITED KINGDOM.(sweepstake lottery/award
promotion)Your email address,is attached to ticket number
023-0148-790-459,with
serial number 5073-11 drew the lucky numbers 43-11-44-37-10-48/05,and
consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category.You have therefore
been approved for a lump sum payout of 2,000,000.00 British Pounds
Sterling in cash credited to file REF NO. UK/9420X2/68/305
This is from total prize money of 40,000,000.00 British Pounds
Sterling
shared among the twenty international winners in this category. All
participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
a collation of frequent internet users from all over the world from
Australia, New Zealand,America,Europe, North America,Africa and Asia
as
part of International Promotions Program.
CONGRATULATIONS.
Your fund is now deposited with a Security company.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 you.This is part of our security protocol to avoid double
claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program.
To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent;
MR.Fred Baker. Esq,
Email:fred_baker@myway.com FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
UK WEB PROMO LOTTO HEADQUARTERS
COVENTRY, UNITED KINGDOM,
You are expected to process your claim, but because of distance, we
can
help you in the processing of your claim to reduce the burden that you
may encounter during this process, it is optional in the constitution
of
our company,we are not allowed to deduct or remove any amount of money
from the prizes won by our clients either for charges, taxes/other
expenses which are needed for the processing and transfer of our
clients funds.this is because of the hard-cover Insurance policy that
came with
itand also for the safety of our client's funds.
NOTE: That claiming of your funds must be completed before
deadline(27th October 2005),further delay might attract additional
expenses in the processing of your claims. Furthermore Inorder to
avoid
unnecessary
delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and
batch numbers in every one of your correspondences with your agent.
Finally, Original copy of your prize winning
certificate will be sent to you after claim
declaration.Congratulations
again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our
promotions
program.
Sincerely,
MR. JOE HILL.
THE PROMOTIONS/INFORMATION MANAGER,
UK WEB PROMO LOTTERY,
COVENTRY,UNITED KINGDOM.
Please do provide the following information's (claim Verification
form)
fill and submit back via (fred_baker@myway.com)
to your claim agent,
1,YOUR FULLNAME:.............
2,YOUR SEX:..................
3,YOUR ADDRESS:...........................
4,.YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER:.........
5,.YOUR FAX NUMBER:...............
6,.YOUR OCCUPATION:...............
7,.YOUR COMPANY'S NAME:...........
8,YOUR AGE:.......................
9,.YOUR REF NUMBER:..............
10,COUNTRY........................
11,E-MAIL.........................
INDICATE PREFERRED MODE OF PRIZE COLLECTION:
A)CASH
(B)ON-LINE WIRE TRANSFER to your designated
Bank Account.
(C)BANK DRAFT.ACCOUNT COORDINATES IF BY ON-LINE WIRE TRANSFER.
Nb: All future correspondence must be made to:Email:
MR.Fred Baker. Esq,
Email:fred_baker@myway.com
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
UK WEB PROMO LOTTO HEADQUARTERS
COVENTRY, UNITED KINGDOM.


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