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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: winners <winners@mmail.com>
Reply-To: douglas_lynn@mmail.com
Date: Sat, 01 Apr 2006 19:58:05 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATION!!!


FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
REF NO: EGS/2551256003/02
BATCH NO: 14/0017/IPD

RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE,ALL WINNERSINFORMATION.

We are pleased to inform you, that as a result of our RECENT LOTTERY DRAWS HELD on the 1st of Dec 2005.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:11 23 34 38 48 49 46 750 with serial number:2113 ? 05 drew lucky numbers:1315 ? 22 ? 37 39 which consequently won in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of US$915,850.00 (NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY EUROS ONLY)

Note that All participants in this lottery program have been selected randomly through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 companies and 30,000,000 individual email addresses from all search engines and web sites.This promotional program takes place every year,and is promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like the Sultan of Brunei,Bill Gates of microsoft inc and other corporate organisations.This is to encourage the use of the internet and computers worldwide.

For security purpose and clarity,we advise that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims have been processed and your money remitted to you.This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claims and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.We look forward to your active participation in our next 4 million euro\'s slot. You are requested to contact your clearance/cliam agent douglas lynn , Foreign Operations Manager, LYCOS FINANCE AND SECURITY with his contact Email:(douglas_lynn@mmail.com) for processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice All winnings must be claimed not later than one month After the date of this notice.
Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence. Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations!!! once more and thank you for being part of our promotional program.
Sincerely,
MR. SANDAR BLANCO
VICE PRESIDENT.
INTL LOTERIA PRIMITIVA

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