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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: "Microsoft Online Lottery Promotions" <award_dept@microsoftonlinelotterypromotions.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 3 Jun 2006 23:29:04 +0200
Subject: Microsoft Online Lottery Promotions

Microsoft Online Lottery Promotions,
The Online Lottery Promotions,
(NOTIFICATION DIVISION)
Ref Number: ONLOTPRO/315689B2/909
Batch Number: 892/ABC/6729/2006
 
Dear Lucky Winner,
 
YOUR ONLINE LOTTERY PROMOTIONS PRIZE AWARDS WINNING
NOTIFICATION.
 
We are pleased to inform you of the Result of the last
Final Annual Draw of our Lottery International Programs.
 
The Online Lottery draws was conducted from an
exclusive list of 25,000,000 E-mail Addresses of Individual and Corporate bodies picked by an Advanced Automated random computer search from the Internet. "NO TICKETS WERE SOLD".
 
After this Automated Computer Ballot, your E-mail
Address emerged as a winner attached to E-Ticket Number: 826389304 9934 with Serial Number 829677 drew the Lucky Numbers: 36.27.23.29.31.59 (Bonus No.49), which subsequently won you the Lottery in the 2nd Category.
You havetherefore been approved to Claim a total! sum of $4,350,000 (Four Million Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand USD) in cash credited to file ONLOTPRO/8292648506/2006. This is from a Total Cash Prize of $24,500,000 shared amongst the first Six (6) Lucky Winners in this Category.
 
Your Prize Award has been insured and is ready for
claims. To begin your claims therefore, you are advised to
expeditiously contact our licensed and accredited Claim Agent for Overseas Lottery Winners within a period of 14 days (Date of this Email inclusive) for the processing of your winning and remittance to your designated Bank Account after all statutory obligations have been satisfactorily dispensed with.
 
You are further advised to contact him with the
informations below:
=======================================================================
Online Lottery Cl! aims Unit
Contact Person: Mr. Edwin McDaniels
Email:agentdaniels02@yahoo.de
Office Tel: +44-702-305-5144,+ 44-703-182-0462
Fax: +44-709-286-1406.
=======================================================================
You are Advised to provide him with the following
information:
 
Names:
Address:
Age:
Occupation:
Telephone/Fax number:
Nationality:
Reference Numbers:
Batch Numbers:
 
NOTE: All winnings must be claimed not later than 14
days; thereafter, all unclaimed funds would be included in the next stake. Remember to quote your Reference information in all correspondence.

You are to keep all lotto information confidential,
especially your Reference and ticket numbers. (This is important, as a case of double claims will not be entertained). Members of the affiliate agencies are automatically not allowed to participate in this
Program.

Furthermore, should there be any change of Address do
inform our Agent as soon as possible.
 
NOTE: Anybody under the Age of 18 is Automatically
Disqualified.
 
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
 
Yours' Faithfully,
 
Walter Jones
Lottery Co-Ordinator.
 
PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS BUT
TO YOUR ONLINE CLAIMS AGENT FOR ONWARD REMITTANCE OF YOUR CLAIMS

Anti-fraud resources: