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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: OLIVIER DOMINIQUE <olivierdominique@mail.com>
Reply-To: martinsassociates@infohq.com
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 21:37:05 +0100
Subject: CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT


MICROSOFT E-MAIL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
BACTH NO: LDD/3172/908/07
REF. NO. LDD/2191/2110//07
This is to inform you of the release of the E-MAIL LOTTERY BALLOT
INTERNATIONAL/WORLD GAMING BOARD held on the 26TH of NOVEMBER 2007 .
Due to the mix up of number, the results were released on the 1TH DECEMBER

2007
Your name attached to ticket number 9685410237 with serial number
4722215874
drew the lucky numbers of 4452185203 which consequently won the lottery
in
the 1st category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of, 800,000:00
Only
(EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) in cash which is
deposited with Finance & Security Company in your favour as beneficiary
and
covered with HIGH INSURANCE POLICY.
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your
winning
information confidential until your claims has been processed and your
money
Remitted to you. This is part of our security measures to avoid double
claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.
All participants were selected through a computer balloting system
drawn
from only Microsoft users from over 20,000 company, and 30,000,000
individual email addresses and names from all over the world.
To begin your lottery claim, please contact the processing department
below
that has been appointed for the processing of your claim with your full
name, contact telephone and fax number to begin the processing of your
claim.
.Martins and Associate
AVOCAT: Martins
Email:martinsassociates@infohq.com
Note that all winning must be claimed not later than 31th JANUARY 2008
after
this date all Unclaimed, funds will be included in the next stake.
Please
note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications remember to
quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent
as
soon as possible. Congratulations once more from our members of staff
and
thank you for being part of our promotional program. Note: Anybody
under the
age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs Olivier Dominique.
(Lottery coordinator)

Anti-fraud resources: