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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: "U.S. Department of State" <jen@sunsettitleagency.com>
Reply-To: hermanstraw_statedpt@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:52:02 +0000
Subject: AMERICAN DV2009 VISA LOTTERY PROGRAM WINNER:CASE NUMBER 2009AES
00023472




Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Kentucky Consular Center(KCC)
3505 North Highway 25W
WilliamsburgKY,40768 U.S.A.


AMERICAN DV2009 VISA LOTTERY PROGRAM WINNER:CASE NUMBER 2009AES 00023472

Congratulations! You are among those randomly selected and registered for further consideration in the DV-2009 diversity immigrant program for fiscal year 2009.

This success notification letter on your success in DV2009 has been sent to you via e-mail owing to failed attempts at getting your response after the normal letter by post was sent.We are assuming that the letter has been lost en transit hence this as the last resort.

Indicate your interest or otherwise to this notification by getting in touch with your Processing Correspondent Mr. Herman Straw through his e-mail hermanstraw_statedpt@yahoo.comwith the following:

1. Your CURRENT contact address (Re-confirm for record purposes),
2. SCANNED copies of your RECENT passport photograph ,
3.Telephone number,
4. Marital status.

Note that the passport photograph must be taken within the last six months,and must be 35mmsq or 2 inches by 2 inches.You can also provide the passport photographs of your spouse and other dependents.Your case number is 2009AES00023472.

Further get in touch with the Clearance Officer Mr. Martin Freeman through his e-mail clofficer_statedept@yahoo.com for instructions on how to pay the $1,189.67clearance/acceptance fees.(Payment is made strictly through Western Union Money Transfer).The payment of the fee ensures that your file is cleared for processing.

At the completion of the processing of your file(which shall be after the above requirements have been provided),you shall be provided with your Visa Lottery Acknowledgment Card with which you may then contact our Embassy for the issuance of your Green Card proper.

Note that this country's Code of Conduct and Constitution Vol.176/866:Act 690SN guiding all immigration,and Green Card permit Agencies, dictates that 10 days after the dispatch of this e-mail,that all such notified winners who fail to comply to the provisions herein contained,shall lose the opportunity.

Thank you.

Reginald Calwell,
Diversity Visa Lottery Coordinator,
Bureau of Consular Affairs,
U.S Department of State.










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