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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: "Thomas Wignall" <promotionlist@she.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: coordinatoralim@sanook.com
Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 13:59:24 +0700
Subject: AWARD WINNINGS NOTIFICATION!!!

DATE: 2nd OF JULY 2006.
FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
PACIFIC PROMOTIONS ORGANIZATION PRIZE/AWARD
BANGKOK THAILAND.
BATCH: EGS/33504992/03: REFERENCE: 17/9918/IPD

ATTENTION: CONGRATULATIONS!

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the of the PACIFIC PROMOTIONS ORGANIZATION PRIZE DRAW PROGRAMS held on the 6th of April, 2006, and the result were released on 28th May 2006. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 065-12855077-09 with serial number 77390 that drew the lucky number of 05-05-17-18-28-38, which consequently won the lottery in the 5th category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of $400.000. ( Four Hundred Thousand United State Dollars ).

CONGRATULATIONS!!

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 25.000 Company and 40.000 individual email addresses and names from Middle East, Asia, Africa, Canada, Europe North and South America, Oceania and around the world. To begin your lottery claims, please contact our Co-ordinator as follows,

Name: Mr Albert Lim
Tel: +66-1-4919460
Email: coordinatoralim@sanook.com

Due to mix up of some numbers and addresses, we ask that you keep your Winning information confidential until your claims have been processed. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participant. Please, note that all winnings must be claimed not later than 30th July, 2006. After this date all unclaimed winnings will be null and void. 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
Co-ordinator as soon as possible. Congratulations once more and thank you for being part of our promotional program. Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.

Sincerely ,
Dr Thomas Wignall.
Vice President,
Pacific Promotions Bangkok Thailand.



Anti-fraud resources: