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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "NELSON WER" <james02@tulsaemail.com>
Reply-To: nelsonmandelafoudation1lotto@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:06:46 +0200
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION


NELSON MANDELA FOUNDATION
TWO TERACE HILL ,SILVERHURSTCONSANTA,
CAPE TOWN 7806SOUTH AFRICA
TEL:27-O-21-794-052
E-MAIL:(nelsonmandelafoudation1lotto@yahoo.com.hk

DEAR SIR.MADAM,

WINNING NOTIFICATION

I HAVE THE PLEASURE TO INFORM YOU THAT YOU HAVE EMERGED A WINNER OF THE
NELSON MANDELA FOUNDATION LOTTO DRAWN ON THE 7TH JUNE 2008.LOTTO CODE
270220/SERIAL NO4256,AMOUNT WON ONE HOUNDRED AND FIFTY
USDOLLARS[US$150.OOO.00]. TO DOUSE YOUR CUROSITY ,THE MASSIVE EMAIL WAS
COMPILIED BY OUR TEAM OF I.T EXPERTS.THIS LOTTO WAS SPONSORED BYHBS CLUB
OF SOUTH AFRICA.YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED TO FORWARD THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION TO (payment.nelsonlotto37@yahoo.com<http://uk.mc283.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=payment.nelsonlotto37@yahoo.com>
)
NAME/INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT NUMBERTELE PHONE AND FAX NUMBERSADDRESS AND
WORK DESGINATIONYOU ARE ALSO ADVISED TO KEEP THIS YOUR WINNING INFORMATION
SECRET IN ORDER TO AVOID MANIPULATION.

CONGRATULATIONS

JAMES NELSONSECRETARY

Anti-fraud resources: