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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: "THOMAS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <infor.sfo@jmail.co.za>
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:41:50 -0700
Subject: ,,,You Have Won Mandela Day Lotto Drew;;;;;;;

Dear Internet User

We are happy to announce to you that your email address has won the Nelson Mandela foundation Mandela Day lottery Promo Held this week.


YOUR EMAIL IS ATTACHED TO TICKET NO: B75904546 220 WINNING NO:04/07/24/25/40/42, CUSTOMER SERVICE: 480 NCA1068REF: ZAWC/2010/WWW/04BATCH: 14/8052/DC04 TO FILE ZA/621825/04


You are to contact our Payment/Claim Officer, ADV George Negote for your claim, Email: infor.sfo@jmail.co.za

Remember Send Your Name, Add, Tel, Age & Occupation,

CONGRATULATION

MS SHELLEY THOMAS
LOTTERY DREW MANAGER


Anti-fraud resources: