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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: varaha@ecunet.org (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:58:30 -0600
Subject: YOUR EMAIL WON THE PRIZE

Your Email Won The Prize!
From Caecilia D. Lloyd (Mrs) (Claim Prize)
The British Hotball Lotto
11 Claughton Firs,Prenton CH43 5TG
Liverpool United Kingdom
REFERENCE #:67/80/IPD
BATCH #: EGGS-541-623-782
Sir/Madam,
Being officially assigned to select winners across the globe, the
management is pleased to inform you of the result of the Hot Lotto GBP
millions British Lottery Winners International E-mail programs held on the
26th August, 2007 and result where release on the 10th September,2007.
Your E-mail address attached to ticket number 653-908-321-675 with
serial main number 345- 790-241-671 drew lucky star numbers 34-32-90-43-32
which consequently won in the 2nd category, you have therefore been
approved for a lump sum pay out of GBP1.500.000.00, with REFERENCE
#:67/80/IPD and BATCH #: EGGS-541-623-782.
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your
winning information confidential until your claims have been processed and
your money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to
avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some
participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn from over 100,000 company and 50,000,000 individual email
addresses and names from all over the world.
This lottery was promoted and sponsored by Software Companies in order
to enhance and promote the use of Internet Explorer Users and
Microsoft-wares around the globe.Mr Louis E. Greg
email: louisgregconsul@xrs.net
Tel: +44 702 402 4410
Fax: +44 709 287 2619
Foreign Service Manager
Any one below the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Warm wishes from the Coordinator.
(Mrs.)Caecilia Lloyd

Anti-fraud resources: