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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: "Judith Cole" <judithcole20@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2006 13:24:18 +0000
Subject: Online coordinator for VODAFONE PROMOTIONS

Vodafone   Vodafone Promotions 
                         FAZANSTRAAT C76, 3084 SX AMSTERDAM,THE NETHERLANDS
REF: VFP /26510460037/02
BATCH:
24/00319/IPD

                                                 WINNING NOTIFICATION
We happily announce to you TODAY  the draw  of the VODAFONE PROMOTIONS, online Sweepstakes International program held on Wednesday 1st of  Febuary 2005. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 023-0148-790-459 with Serial number 5073-11 drew the lucky numbers: 43-11-44-17-37-10-43, which subsequently won you the lottery in the 3rd category.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of  US$ 3,500,000.00 (Three million, five hundred  thousand dollars ) in cash credited to file VFP/25041238013/02. This is from a total cash prize of  $59,500,000.00 shared amongst 17 lucky winners in this category
All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online. This promotion takes place weekly.
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your US$ 3,500,000.00(Three million, five hundred  thousand dollars ) would be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe.
Your fund is now deposited with a Security company Insured. Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.
This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned.
To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:
TOM WALKER
CLAIMS MANAGER,
VODACOM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
Remember that all prize money must be claimed not later than two weeks, otherwise, will be returned as unclaimed.
Congratulations from the staff and I of the VODAFONE PROMOTIONS.
Yours faithfully,
Judith Cole
Online coordinator for VODAFONE PROMOTIONS
Sweepstakes International Program.
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