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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: info lucky winner <pageus56@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: <kelbrodricks@yahoo.com.au>
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 06:14:04 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!! YOUR EMAIL JUST WON A LOTTERY PRIZE.



Date: 26/11/2007Ref: 575061725Batch: 8056490902/188Winning no: GB8701/LPRC CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Dear Lucky Winner,
We are delighted to inform you of your prize release on the 24th NOV 2007 from the Australia Lottery programme. Which is fully based on an Electronic selection of winners using their e-mail addresses. Your email address was attached to ticket number; 47061725 07056490902 serial number 7741137002. This batch draws the lucky numbers as follows 5-13-33-37-42 bonus number 17,which consequently won the Monthly lottery in the second category.
You hereby have been approved a lump sum pay out of $950,000.00 (NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND AUSTRALLIAN DOLLARS) in cash credit file ref: ILP/HW47509/07 from the total cash prize of AU$95,500,000.00 shared amongst ten lucky winners in this category. All participant were selected through a computer balloting system drawn form Nine hundred thousand E-mail addresses from Canada, Australia, United States, Asia, Europe, UK, Middle East, Africa and Oceania as part of our international promotions program which is conducted Monthly.
This Lottery was promoted and sponsored by a conglomerate of some multinational companies as part of their social responsibility to the citizens in the communities where they have operational base. Further more your details (e-mail address) fall within our UK representative office in London, as indicated in your play coupon and your prize of AU$950,000.00 will be released to you from this regional branch office in London. We hope with part of your prize, you will participate in our end of year high stakes for AU$1.3 Billion international draw.
HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE?:Simply contact our fiducial agent In London, Dr. Kelvin Brodricks at (kelbrodricks@yahoo.com.au) Fax: + (44)-07005-976-564, to file for your claim. Please quote your reference, batch and winning number which can be found on the top left corner of this notification as well as your full name and telephone number to help locate your file easily.
For security reasons, we advice all winners to keep this information confidential from the public until your claim is processed and your prize released to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking advantage of this programme by non-participant or unofficial personnel.
Note, all winnings MUST be claimed by the 10th DECEMBER 2007 otherwise all funds will be returned as Unclaimed and eventually donated to charity. Congratulations once again on your winnings!!!
Once again, accept my hearty congratulations!!
Sincerely,
Mr. Johnny JonesAustralia (Lotto co-ordinate)
_________________________________________________________________
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