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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: "emailawardsdept" <emailawardsdept@terra.com.mx>
Date: Fri, 19 May 2006 18:04:20 -0600
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!!


THE U.K NATIONAL LOTTERY
UK-LOTTO Headquarters:
The Marina Offices,
St Peters Yacht Basin,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1HX
England
Customer Service
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
WINNING NOTIFICATION:
We happily announce to you the draw (#1083) of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY,online Sweepstakes International program held on Saturday the 6th of May, 2006, in NEWCASTLE, UNITED-KINGDOM.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers:08 . 13 . 28 . 32 . 36 . 46 . [15] Bonus Ball, which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e match 6. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of
U$D 2,500,000.00 (Two million, Five Hundred Thousand United StatesDollars) in cash, credited to file ktu/9023118308/03. This is from a total cash prize of $USD 10 Million dollars, shared amongst the first Four (4) lucky winners in this category.
All participants for this 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 $USD2,500,000 (two million five hundred thousand dollars) will 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 receive 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, contact our fiduciary agent:
Mr.BRIAN HUNT
Email: lottery_brian_hunt@yahoo.co.uk
Phone: +447031948020
with your claims verification form/information below:
FULL NAMES OF BENEFICIARY:........................
CONTACT ADDRESS:..................................
CITY/STATE:.......................................
COUNTRY:..........................................
NATIONALITY:......................................
SEX:.......................AGE:...................
MARITAL STATUS...................................
TEL NO:...........................................
NEXT OF KIN:......................................

OCCUPATION:.............................................
ANNUAL INCOME:....................................

AMOUNT WON:.......................................
REFENCE NO:................BATCH NO:..............
LUCKY NO:..................TICKET NO..............
SERIAL NO:.................LOTTERY DATE:..........
Congratulations once again from all members and staff of this
program. Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery
programs.
Yours faithfully,
THOMAS BARNES
Online coordinator for UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program
Copyright © 1994-2006 The UK National Lottery Inc.
All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guidelines

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