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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: Tour <info@winners.org>
Reply-To: mr_gerrywhiteclaims@live.com
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:10:12 +0400
Subject: ********WINNING NOTIFICATION********

UK INTERNATIONAL DRAW HEADQUATERS
NATIONAL LOTTERY TOWER
LIVERPOOL, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
Ref No: UK/9420X2/68
Batch No: 074/05/ZY369

********WINNING NOTIFICATION********

We happily announce to you the draw (#1198) of the UK INTERNATIONAL EMAIL DRAW;
online International program held 20th August 2008.Your e-mail address with Serial
number 5368/06 drew the lucky numbers: 17/33-45. Your email won you 1,500,000.00
Great British Pounds.

The selection process was carried out through random selection in our
computerized email selection machine (TOPAZ). Also be informed that you will only
be chosen to receive the donation once, which means that subsequent yearly
donation will not get to you again. Take time and thought in spending the
donation wisely on something that will last you a long time.

TO FILE FOR YOUR CLAIM, DO CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT AT THE LOTTERY TOWER

Mr. Gerry White
Head Winning Claims Dept
Official Email: mr_gerrywhiteclaims@live.com
Tel: +447024013454

You are to provide the following which are needed to process your winning claim
To your Claims Agent for verification

1. NAME................ 2. AGE/SEX.............
3. ADDRESS.......... 4. OCCUPATION........
5. PHONE NO........ 6. COUNTRY..............

Regards
Mike Vilasma

Anti-fraud resources: