419 scam: KIMBERLY VEENSTRA <veenstra.3@osu.edu> congratulation................sir/madam.

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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:

This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!

Fraud email example:

From: KIMBERLY VEENSTRA <veenstra.3@osu.edu>
Reply-To: nlclaimdepartment01@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:21:56 -0700
Subject: congratulation................sir/madam.

=3CBR=3E=3CBR=3EAttn=3BWinner =3CBR=3EWe wish to notify you that this email address was randomly selec= ted =3CBR=3Eand entered into our free Third Category draws of the UK NATIONA= L LOTTERY=2EYou have subsequently =3CBR=3Eemerged a winner and therefore entitled to a substantial amount = of =3CBR=3E=A3516=2C778=2E00 POUNDS STERLING=2E and =3CBR=3Eits Equivalent is =24921=2C201=3A00 USD=2E =3CBR=3EYOUR WINNING DETAILS =3CBR=3EThis lucky draw came first in the 3rd Category of = =3CBR=3Ethe Sweepstake=2E =3CBR=3E =3CBR=3ERef=3A UK/9420X2/68 =3CBR=3EBatch=3A 074/05/ZY369 =3CBR=3ELucky No=3A- 07-13-31=2E54-640 =3CBR=3ESerial No=3A - MUO TI/82536 =3CBR=3E =3CBR=3EFor further information=2C kindly confirm receipt of this email=2C= by =3CBR=3Eforwarding this message to our claims department on Email =3A =3CBR=3EPAYMENT PROCESSING FORM =3CBR=3E =3CBR=3E1=2EFULL NAMES=3A=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F =3CBR=3E2=2EADDRESS=3A=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F =3CBR=3E3=2ESEX=3A=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F =3CBR=3E4=2EAGE=3A=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F =3CBR=3E5=2EMARITAL STATUS=3A=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F =3CBR=3E6=2EOCCUPATION=3A=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F =3CBR=3E7=2EE-MAIL ADDRESS=3A=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F =3CBR=3E8=2ETELEPHONE NUMBER=3A=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F =3CBR=3E9=2EAMOUNT WON=3A=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F =3CBR=3E10=2E COUNTRY=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F =3CBR=3E =3CBR=3E=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =3CBR=3EName=3A MR=2EPeter Taylor(CLAIMS OFFICER) =3CBR=3EEmail address=3Anlclaimdepartment01=40hotmail=2Ecom =3CBR=3E=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =3CBR=3EThank you=2E =3CBR=3EYours Sincerely=2C =3CBR=3ELucy Baines =3CBR=3Eonline Co-ordinator=3CBR=3E=3CBR=3E

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam