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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 about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "martildal bauer" <martildalbauer1@sympatico.ca>
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2006 10:29:12 +0000
Subject: AWARD

The National money balls Lottery
(Customer Services)
WINNING NOTIFICATION:
Ref: XYL /26510460037/05
Batch: 24/00319/IPD
Dear Winner,
We happily announce to you the draw (#1024) of the BELGIUM ,online
Sweepstakes International program held on 16th FEBRUARY 2006, e-mail
address attached to ticket number:56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02
drew the lucky numbers:
Which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e. match 5 plus
bonus.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of $1,000.000.00(One
Million Dollars) in cash credited to file XYL /26510460037/05.
This is from a total cash prize of 10 million Dollars shared amongst the
(10) lucky winners in this category i.e. Match 1 plus bonus. 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 one time in a year.
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 (One Million Dollars) would be released to you by any
of our payment offices in Europe.
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 claim 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 claims agent:
Overseas Claims Unit
Belgium Lottery Fiduciary
CHRISTOPHER DECKER
Email:infolottspor3@netscape.net
Tel:0032-485925540
Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate
the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. You may wish to
establish contact via e-mail with the particulars presented above citing the
batch and reference numbers to this letter.
Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality, and
press anonymity until the end of proceedings, and beyond where they so
desire. Be further advised to maintain the strictest level of
confidentiality until the end of proceedings to circumvent problems
associated with fraudulent claims. This is part of our precautionary
measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.
Good luck from me and members of staff of the Belgium money balls National
LOTTERY.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. MARTILDAL BAUER
Online co-ordinator for Belgium NATIONALLOTTERY



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