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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: "South-West Australia Lottery" <arielsbertis@mails.de>
Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 08:36:57 -0400
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

South-West Australia Lottery,
9701 Alexander Mall, Adelaide,
South-West Australia.
(South-West Australia Lottery is an affiliate of MCI Networks).
Santon Square, Complex 21, Netherlands.

From: Ms. Sharon Maxwell.
e-mail : arielsbertis@mails.de
(Lottery Coordinator)

Sir/Madam,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the South-West Australia
Lottery (international program)
held on the 24th, Nov. 2005. Your e-mail address attached to ticket #:
34090322816 with prize
# 43568000/12 drew €1,000,000.00 which was first in the 1st Category of the
draws. You have been
approved to receive €1,000,000.00 (One Million Euros).
Because of claims mix-up and the limited time claims pay-outs, we will
advice that you keep your winning
information confidential until your prize (€1,000,000.00) has been remitted
to you by our accredited paying
bank. You must adhere to this instructions strictly to avoid loss of your
cash prize – this program has been
abused severally, so we are doing all we can to forestall further abuse by
way of wrong claims.
It's important to note that this draws were conducted formally under the
watchful eyes of over 45,000
audiences. Winners are selected through an internet ballot system from
160,000 personal and corporate
e-mail addresses. The program sponsored/supported by MCI Networks in
conjunction with South-West
Australia lottery.
Congratulate you once again. We hope you will use part cash prize to
participate in our next mega draws
of €85million.
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 10-days after you
receive this notification. Failure to
claim your cash prize after this date will result in prize forfeiture.
Please, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications remember to
quote personal and winning
numbers in correspondence with paying bank.

Please contact the paying bank with your information for the immediate
remittance of your funds. Kindly
send them the following:
(i). your names,
(ii) Contact telephone and fax numbers
(iii) Contact Address
(iv) Your winning numbers
(v) Quote amount won.

Contact the paying bank with the following:
Bank’s Name: Deutsche Bank NV.
Contact person: Mrs. Henriette Mark & Mr. Hermann-Josef Lamberti.

Deutsche Bank, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
E-mail: custservices@compaqnet.fr
Tel: (+3162) 655 4573.
Fax: (+3184) 757 0357

Congratulations once again.
Yours in service,
Ms. Sharon Maxwell.
Lottery Coordinator.



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