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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: Mrs.Brigit Willem <megalotto400@netscape.net>
Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2005 01:44:40 +0100
Subject: YOUR E-MAIL WON THE LOTTERY




FROM: THE DESK OF THE LOTTO CHANCELLOR, WINNING NOTIFICATION.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,

REF: KIY/47560460037/02.
BATCH: 24/23519/YHI

ATTENTION: RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as a winner in
the REAL EXCHANGE LOTTO PROMO ,THE GLOBAL MEGA LOTTERY INT.,PROGRAMS held in
AMSTERDAM through a computer ballot system Your company/Your email, is attached to ticket number
023-5876-790-279, with serial number 3673-10 drew the lucky numbers 43-14-42-37-69-25, and
consequently won the lottery in the first category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay
out of US$800 000:00 in cash credited to file REF: KIY /47560460037/02. This is from total prize money
of US$20,000,000.00 shared among the 25 international winners in this category. All participants were
selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 30,000 names from Australia, New Zealand,
America, Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa as part of International Promotions Program, which is
conducted annually. CONGRATULATIONS! Your fund is now deposited with a Finance House 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 you prize, you will participate in our end of year high stakes US$5.7 Million
Netherlands International Lottery.
To begin your claim, please contact our international claims agent:

Mr. SMIT MIKEL
Email: smit900@netscape.net
Tel: +31-646-543-745
INTERNATIONAL COORDINATOR,

For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice.
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 22th/ 12/ 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 claim's agent as soon as
possible. Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Brigit Willem
THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER, GLOBAL MEGA LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
N.B.
Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will
Result to disqualification.

.All participants below the age of18 are automatically disqualified.

All e-mail transmission/correspondence are 100% protected by our Secure Socket Layer (SSL) server.

Anti-fraud resources: