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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: "Euro-PW Lottery v7.0" <europwpv60@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:01:45 +1200
Subject: Dear Winner

Euro-PW Lottery v7.0
www.europw.com
Postbus 636-5930
Terneuzen, Netherland.

Dear Winner,

Your email address emerged winner in our online lottery
program.You have won the sum of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND
EURO(500,000 €),All the email
addresses legible for this award were subscribers from
Yahoo,Hotmail and other email service providers worldwide.
You are to contact our
remittance agent with your winning number below

Winning Number: EPWL 11,17,18,26,31 /5 6

NAME: NINA T. FRIJTERS (Mrs.)
Email: europwpv60@hotmail.com

APPLICATION FOR PRIZE CLAIM FORM
================================

[FULL NAME OF WINNER]..........................
[RESIDENT ADDRESS]...................
[COUNTRY/ REGION]....................
[DATE OF BIRTH]...../...../......... [SEX].......
[OCCUPATION]..............[TEL/FAX]................
[CURRENT EMAIL].....................

CONGRATULATIONS from me and all members of staff of Euro-PW
Lottery.

Regards,
Jossy Choy.





Anti-fraud resources: