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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: JOHN EDWARDS <agentjohnedwards601@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 12:52:14 +0700
Subject: Re: Lottery Winnings.

Dear Lucky Winner ,

As per your request for further information regarding the lottery that
you won , we wish to formally inform you that your Your E-mail address
is one of 7 lucky Addresses who have won in the Promotion. The
selection was done by an online automated email grabber that was held
last week .

You are entitled to a whooping sum of US$2,950,000.00 (Two Million
Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand United State Dollars) as your cash
prize .

You winning details are as follows :

Winning Reference Number is: GMML/240142:
Batch Number18/006/1094/LIPDA/ZA.
WINNING NUMBERS: 80, 35, 11, 72, 90, 41 (01) .

You are advised not to give these winning information's out to anyone
or even discuss it as it is a very important information you have to
further the claims process .

The lottery company has authorized our office/agency to handle your
claims processes ,that is why you were directed to contact us by email
or phone .

Kindly send us the following details to assist you further in the
claims process , the below requested information's will assist us in
knowing whom we are dealing with and for documentation processes .

Send the following information below:

NAME:
AGE:
SEX:
ADDRESS:
OCCUPATION:
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
COUNTRY OF RESIDENT:
TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER:
A SCANNED COPY OF ANY FORM OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION.

Note: This program is being sponsored by the FIFA SUPPORT TEAM, to
create awareness for the up coming 2010 FIFA world Cup, which is to be
host by South Africa.

Once we receive the above information we will process the claims and
inform you of what next to do .

Regards,
John E.

Anti-fraud resources: