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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: "uk lotto" <uk_nationallotto7@msn.com>
Reply-To: ventex_service@sify.com
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 15:35:22 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!

ATTN-SIR
THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER, NATIONAL LOTTERY,U.K.
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: OYL /26510460037/02
BATCH: 24/00319/IPD
ATTENTION: Sir
RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement
today, 13th Nov, winners of the NATIONAL LOTTERY,U.K
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS held on 12th Nov 2005.
You are attached to ticket number 023-0148-790-459,
with serial number 5073-11 drew the lucky numbers
43-11-44-37-10-43, and consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay
out of US$500.000.00 in cash credited to file REF
NO. OYL/25041238013/02. This is from total prize money
of US$80,400,000.00 shared among the seventeen
international winners in this category.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn form 25,000 names from Australia, New Zealand,
America, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia as part of
International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now deposited with a Security company
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 your prize, you will
participate in our end of year high stakes US$1.3
billion International Lottery.
To begin your claim, please contact your claim
agent; Mr. Smith Phillip ventex_service@sify.com
Vertex Finance Company,
For due processing and remittance of your prize
money. Please send down your
Telephone and Fax nos.
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later
than 30th Nov 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 your agent.
Furthermore, should there be any
change of your address, do inform your claims agent
as soon as possible.
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank
you for being part of our promotions program.
Sincerely,
MIKE BALLY
THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER, NATIONAL LOTTERY,U.K
N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of
the winners will result to disqualification


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