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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: "Jennifer Pepple" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <geraldjonesgj2@googlemail.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2010 11:00:59 +0100
Subject: Congratulations

Dear Beneficiary,

We are sorry for what the Lotto Award claims processes have caused you with our remitting bank. Due to over rampant internet banking corruption activities, the Yahoo board of trustees decided to cancel the award payment with the bank. This meeting was held in London on Saturday, 19th of December, 2009.

After the meeting on 19th of December,2009, an official agreement was reached on 1st of March,2010 between Yahoo and Glasfrew Security Company which took an immediate effects for the Security Company to issue all the Yahoo Award winners a certified cashier Cheque of Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousands United States of American Dollars (US$ 850,000.00) Contact the Delivery agent below with your full names, Postal address and direct telephone number, this will enable you to have information's about your Cheque.

Contact Person: Gerald Jones
Email Address: geraldjonesgj2@googlemail.com

For your information, Yahoo has paid for the delivering Charge and Insurance premium. The only money you will pay/send to Gerald Jones for your Cheque to be released and delivered to your postal Address in your country is (US$250.00) being Security Keeping Fee of your Cheque with the security company and the Security company will not release your cheque for delivery unless the security safe keeping fees is paid by you as no amount of money can be deducted from your cheque, so contact Gerald Jones and ask him how you will send the security safe keeping fees of your winning cheque with the security company.

Finally, do not be deceived by anybody to pay more than (US$ 250.00)Ask for your tracking number after your payment for the security safe keeping fees to enable you track your package over there and know when it will get to your address.

Yours Sincerely,

Jennifer Pepple,
Notification Officer

Anti-fraud resources: