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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: "Mrs. Mary Benson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <andrewmichael001@live.com.au>
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:35:07 -0400
Subject: Re: Your Compensation of $600,000 USD( Please call Mr.ANDREW MICHAEL now on (+44- 701-113-9532)

Re: Your Compensation of $600,000 USD( Please call Mr.ANDREW MICHAEL now on (+44- 701-113-9532)
 
 
 
My Dear Friend.
 
 
 
Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust worthiness you showed at the course of the United kingdom Online Lotto winning cheque shipment to your location, I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of $600,000USD (Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) I have authorized the finance house where I deposited the money to issue you international certified bank draft cashable at your bank.
 
 
My dear winner, I will like you to contact the CEO in charge of the finance house for the collection of this international Certified bank draft. He is based in the United Kingdom and he has his agent in Benin republic. The name of the Person with your Cheque is
 
 
 
MR. ANDREW MICHAEL
COMPENSATION AND FINANCE HOUSE HEAD OFFICE UK
CONTACT AGENT: Mr. ANDREW MICHAEL
EMAIL: andrewmichael001@live.com.au
PHONE : +44- 701-113-9532
 
 
 
To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your
 
1.Full Name: ......................
2.Residential Address:...................
3.Phone Number: ........................
4.Sex: ..............................
5.Age ..........................................
6.Occupation ..................................
7.Nationality...................................
8.Present Country:.............................
 
 
 
At the moment, I am very busy in Sydney because of the investment projects which myself and my new partner Mr. Hillton of CTL Express Courier Company, are having at hand.
 
  Finally, remember that I have forwarded instruction to MR. ANDREW MICHAEL at the finance house on your behalf to send the bank draft to you as soon as you contact him without delay.
 
 
Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of my heart. Thanks and God bless you and your family.
 
Hope to hear from you soon.
 
 
I noticed it as a fiduciary agent that you were skeptical about your winnings when you were been ask by the UK lotto Agency Inc to file out a claim for your prize. And now the current policy of the Lotto organizers is that if an emerged winner fails to claim up his/her winning cheque, it's now mandatory that this fund can be remitted or forfeited to the fiduciary agent in charge of this winners file.
 
 
 
However, I want you to contact him immediately as soon as you receive this information because he is leaving for CYPRUS by the end of next month and this might cost a delay for you to receive this draft.
 
 
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
 
Mrs.Mary Benson.
 

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