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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: pickwinnersonline6@702mail.co.za
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 00:47:18 -0800
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE WON

Ref No: ZAR/J0021-671/SA2005
Batch No: 002472/B8992-60


Dear Email Owner,

We happily announce to you the Draw # (4 2 11 23 82 16 10)
of the PICK WINNER ONLINE held recently. Your Fax Number
attached to ticket number: 728-10185-03124-78 288 with
Serial number 6712/05 drew the lucky numbers
01-05-13-267-32-05 which subsequently won you the lottery
in the 2nd category i.e Thunderball Jackpot.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of
US$2,200,000.only in cash credited to file
ZAR/7781-P1301/05. All participants for the online version
were selected randomly from World Wide email Database
Directory through computer ballot system and extracted from
over 100,000 unions, associations and corporate bodies that
are listed online.

This promotion takes place monthly. Please note that your
lucky winning number falls within our International Booklet
representative office here in South Africa as indicated in
your winning numbers. Your fund is now available for claim.
Due to the mix up of some numbers and emails, we request
you to quote your Reference and Batch numbers. We also
advice you to keep this award strictly from Public Notice
until your claim has been processed.

In view of this, our payment offices here in South Africa
would release your US$2,200,000 to you. To file for your
claim, please contact our Claims Department; for proper
processing of your claim file, do please send your Name,
Current Mailing Address and Tel/Fax Number, to the below
email address of the Claims Department.

Claims Department
Mr. John Nkosi
PICK WINNER ONLINE
Tel: 27-83-749-4916
Email: claimsdept2@websurfer.co.za

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 Two Week after notice.
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 our
fiduciary agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of
your address, do inform our fiduciary agent as soon as
possible.

Good luck from me and members of staff of the PICK WINNER
ONLINE.

Yours Faithfully,


Mrs. Mary Nonjabs
Online Co-ordinator

Anti-fraud resources: