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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: james kelvin <uknationallotteryagent.ukoffice@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 10:10:35 +0100 (BST)
Subject: VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM


Dear Jarman
Congratulations once again from all the staff here. In order to verify your winnings, we need your particulars for record purposes, Attached here is a copy of our verifications form, please fill accordingly so as to proceed with your winnings. Once again congratulations from all the staff.


VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM

1.FULL NAMES:__________________________________________

2.ADDRESS:_____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

3.SEX:_______________

4.AGE:_______________

5.MARITAL STATUS:_____________________

6.OCCUPATION:________________________

7.E-MAIL ADDRESS:_____________________________

8.TELEPHONE NUMBER:__________________________

9.LOTTO NUMBER:____________________ B. DRAW NUMBER:______________

10.TICKET NUMBER:___________________

11.SERIAL NUMBER:___________________

12.AMOUNT WON:____________________________________

____________________________________________________

13. STATE:__________________________________

14. COUNTRY________________________________

Upon receipt of the duly requested data, I will send you the contact information of the payment office so you can proceed with effecting the release of your claim.
Note: The UK national lottery has discovered a huge number of double claims due to winners informing close friends relatives, attorneys and third parties about their winning. As a result of this, this close friends relatives, attorneys and third parties try to claim the lottery on behalf of the real winners. The UK national lottery losses millions of pounds on this fraudulent people, and has reached a decision from headquarters that any double claim discovered by the UK national lottery, will result to the Lottery office canceling that particular winning, making a loss for both the double claimer and the real winner, as it is taken that the real winner was the informer to the double claimer about the lottery. So you are hereby strongly advised once more to keep your winnings strictly confidential until you can claim your prize.

Mr. James Kelvin









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