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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: "Walter" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <claimsagent2@sify.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2010 19:17:42 -0700
Subject: Congratulations

UK National Lottery
Main Office, Bevan House
51 Bevan Avenue
London, United Kingdom
Attention: Winner No. 007,
This exalted office wishes to notify and congratulate you over the selection of your email address as winner No.007 in the following official publication of results of the E-mail electronic online Sweepstakes organized by Uk National Lottery House 2010, A Draft of (1,000.000.00 GBP) One Million British Pounds will be issued in your name as one of  our lucky Winner for this email electronic promotion 2010,
Please note that your winning prize award  must be released with the following particulars attached to it.
1 File Number: UK1267-2010
2 Ref. Code: UNL/662277460037/2010
3 Grant Number 2010/99319/IPD
You are thereby advised to forward the Following Information as Listed Below and Send to our accredited claims agent here in UK, Mr.Douglas Galbi
Through Email: claimsagent2@sify.com.
Your Residential address:
Tel Mobile:
Nationality/Country:
Full Names:
Age/Sex:
Occupation/Position:
 
As soon as the above Informations is received by our accredited claims agent through E-mail: claimsagent2@sify.com,
Your winning prize amounting 1,000,000.00 will be process and pay to you officially as our winner No.007.
Note, all winnings must be claimed not later than 21 days from date of Draw Notification after the Draw date in which Prize has won unless otherwise. Any prize not claimed within this period 21days will be forfeited unless where necessary.
 
Sincerely,
 
Mrs. Patricia Walter
Prize Notification Manager

Anti-fraud resources: