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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: zurichlotterien32@comcast.net (Zurich Lotterien)
Date: Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:58:01 +0000
Subject: Congratulations ! ! ! You Have Won One Million Euro

Zürich Lotterien
Central Office.
Management and Central Services:
Weg 205 B - 02241, zum Erfolgreichen, Switzerland.

Zürich Lotterien draws was conducted from an exclusive list of 20,000,000 e-mail addresses of individual and
corporate bodies picked by an automated random computer ballot search from the internet as part of our
international promotions program which we conduct every year. No tickets were sold.

This program is organized by the international lotto and games subcommittee, endorsed by the European lottery
guild in conjunction with NGO organizations in Switzerland.

After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address attached to serial number 02-87-87 drew the lucky numbers
4-11-41-26-02-62, which consequently emerged you as one of first ten (10) lucky winners in the United Kingdom category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay off of €1,000,000.00 (One Million EURO) in cash credited to file
ZL/08/4008. This is from total cash prize of €50 Million Euro shared amongst the first fifty- (50) lucky winners all around
the world. Your funds are now deposited in an offshore bank with a hardcover insurance.

You are required to send the necessary information as regards your chosen
option to our help line below:

Zürich Lotterien
Information and Payment Bureau:
London Representative Office
Help Service Contact
Tel: +44 701-115-0676
E-mail: zurichhelpline@live.com

Mrs. Kirt Loberg.
Promotions Manager.
Zürich Lotterien

Anti-fraud resources: