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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: "Luxembourg Lotterien." <genevalotterien@live.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 19:02:03 -0400
Subject: NOTICE...CONGRATULATION

 

ONLINE NOTIFICATION
NOTICE...CONGRATULATION
Lucky Winner 2008 ,

 

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
BATCH NO: PBL/67189098011/245679/1109
REF. NO: PBL/11278998789/908796//1109

 

Dear Winner,

 

   This is to inform you of the release of the E-MAIL LOTTERY BALLOT 
INTERNATIONAL/WORLD GAMING BOARD. Your name attached to ticket number  219028657434 with Serial number 918735625 drew the lucky numbers of  21-70-81-82-99 which consequently won the lottery in the 1st category.

 

You have just won yourself the sum of 1,000,000.00 GBP ( ONE MILLION  POUNDS STERLING ) in the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY In which e-mail addresses  are picked randomly by software powered by the Internet.

 

Your email  address was amongst those chosen in this quarter and you are to
contact our  CLAIMS OFFICER for Clearance.

 

CONTACT NAME: MOTLEY BRANDON
CITY/ COUNTRY: LONDON, ENGLAND.
EMAIL: financeplc3@live.com

 

This is part of the Country's Programme to fund for the Olympic Games in 2012 The £1.5bn Olympic lottery puzzle (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4719851.stm)

 

Sincerely,
MRS.RETHERFORD RENAUD

Anti-fraud resources: