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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: "THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <promotbcocacolapromotion@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 19:24:56 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS

 
THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER
2ND FLR. SABC UNIVERSAL BLDG.,
P.O. BOX 91711
AUCKLAND PARK, 2006
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.
Ref.SA/LOTTO-AWD/1742                                                         
 
                                PRIZE AWARD NOTIFICATION
 
 
Your email attached to ticket number 0098876 with serial number SA2010-99876 has won you the sum of ONE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($1,000,000.00).PLEASE DOWNLOAD ATTACHED FILE FOR WINNING DETAILS
 
MRS. SUSAN WILLIAM
FOR SA 2010 LOTTERY AWARD PROGRAM.

Anti-fraud resources: