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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: Award Department <award@lotterywest.wa.gov.au> (may be fake)
Reply-To: claims00@info.al
Date: Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:35:35 -0400
Subject: Saturday Lotto

Lottery West Awards
FROM DESK OF PROMOTION MANAGER
LotteryWest Saturday Lotto (Email Ballot)

Your Email Address has won you $2,500,000.00 (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars) in the first category of our computer ballot email
lottery. No ticket was sold but it is to encourage internet users. All
participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn form 300,000
emails from countries all over the world as part of the UN International
Promotions Program, which is normally conducted annually.

Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this confidential
until your claim has been processed and your award funds remitted to your
account as this is part of the security protocols to avoid double claiming or
unwarranted taking advantage of this programs by participants.

To claim your winning,Please contact the correspondence claims officer in-charge
Mr. Steven Martins with the following details below;

Claims Officer: Steven Martins
E-mail: claims00@info.al
Send the following to the claim department: Full names, Address, Age,
Occupation, Phone/Fax No, Ref No, Batch No.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every
correspondence.
Congratulations! once again from all members of our organizers and
thank you for being part of our promotion program.

Regards,
Mrs. Frederik Boegh
REF NO:CML/53524/104,
BATCH NO:2177/675/CMD

Anti-fraud resources: