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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: "MR. Whitlam Wilson" <whitlamwilson@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2007 08:03:34 -0600
Subject: REPLY FORM / CLAIMS PROCEDURE

 
Vodafone   Vodafone Promotions 
                        
REF: VFP /26510460037/02
BATCH:
24/00319/IPD
REPLY FORM / CLAIMS PROCEDURE
Online sweepstakes international programe.
103 LEYSDOWN DRIVE, HEMEL HEMPSTEAD HP1 2LD ENGLAND.
 UNITED KINGDOM
 
Title (Prof. Dr. Mr. Ms.) : ________ First Name : ____________________  
 
Surname :________________
 
Area of Activity : ___________________________________________________________________
 
Position : ____________________________________________________________
 
Serial / Winning Number : __________________________________________________________
 
Addres : ___________________________________________________________________
 
City/Post Code :  ____________   Country : __________________
 
Tel. : _____________________  Fax : ____________________   Age : __________________
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
On request, please indicate, if present country of residence is different from country of origin.
                                       
                                       Please mention the option requested
  •  Contact or Postal Address where you wish to receive your won prize.
  • __________________________________________________________________
  • __________________________________________________________________
 
Please, fill in the form and send it by email as soon as possible for verification and index coding
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 quarterly.
 
Congratulations from the staff and I of the VODAFONE PROMOTIONS
 
Thank you for your co-operation.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
  Mr. Whitlam Wilson
 
Online fiduciary agent for VODAFONE PROMOTIONS
Sweepstakes International Program.
Copyright © 1994-2006 The Vodafone Promo Inc.
All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guideline
 
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Anti-fraud resources: