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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: Acount Department <accounts@onlinelotto-winners.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 21:37:32 +0800
Subject: You have been verified





Attn:Brigid Delima Lo
Dear Award winner,
Your particulars have been verified in this office. This means that you have been officially cleared for payment by the claims Dept. Your winning cheque, original copy of your winning certificate, together with a covering document (Money Laundering protection and Letter of Affidavit for Claims) from the British government stating that the money was obtained legally through the FREELOTTO promotion will be sent to you as soon as you choose from any of the option stipulated below. Please find attached a copy of your prize claim certificate.

To begin the final step of the claims process, which is the shipment of your winning cheque prize to you? With regards to this, there are three options open to you and you are required to select the most convenient of the Three.

The options, together with their associated conditions are presented below: You are required to pay the necessary courier charges to enable us send you your cheque and other claim documents. Shipping your winning cross cheque to you via any of this channel listed below:

DHL

Mailing: 70 pounds
Insurance: 205 pounds
Handling charges: 100 pounds
Vat: 5.63 pounds
Total: 380.63 pounds = 685.14 dollars

UPS
Mailing: 65 pounds
Insurance: 195 pounds
Handling charges: 100 pounds
Vat: 5.40 pounds
Total: 365.40 pounds = 657.72 Dollars

FedEx
Mailing: 64.50 pounds
Insurance: 195 pounds
Handling charges: 100 pounds
Vat: 5.30 pounds
Total: 364.80 pounds = 656.64 dollars



Delivery Information/ Parcel Description
Delivery Terms: .............. International Delivery
Consignment Note No: ......... XBN103940394-00
Color of Parcel: ............ Brown
Total Weight: ................ 1.02g
Total Net Weight: ............ 3.07g
These companies declined reverse payment for these charges, stating that it is against their professional policy towards ensuring the safe delivery of the cheque to you. That if a reverse payment is made, and something goes wrong, that we/you cannot sue the courier company or insurance company to recover the full value of the fund as stipulated in the cheque since payment for insurance cover was not made at point of mailing. With the above reason, reverse payment is ruled out.

Note: that your prize is protected by a hardcover insurance policy, which makes it impossible to deduct any amount from the money before it has been remitted to you. This means that the above charges cannot be deducted from the prize and hence must be provided by you before your prize is transferred to you.

This is in accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the national gambling act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3rd July 1996 by the constitutional assembly. This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds

Get back to me to let me know the options you have chosen and also that I can let you know how to make your payment to this office.

Once again, congratulations.
Mr Thomas Wise


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