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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: "Nokia Promo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nokialive2010@live.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 06:42:37 -0000
Subject: Important Notice

We happily announce to you the Draw (06/1099) of the Nokia Phones Lottery promotion program held on 16th Nov, 2010. From a World Wide Web site through computer draws system and extracted from over 10,000.00 Mobile companies and personal Mobile numbers from which your mobile number was one of the lucky number in this year Nokia emerged alongside 9 others as a category 2 winner Consequently, you have therefore been approved for a total pay out of £946,480.00 (Nine Hundred And Forty-Six Thousand, Four Hundred & Eighty British Pounds Sterling only). The following particulars are attached to your lotto payment order: (i) Winning Numbers: 05 18 26 34 42 49 BB 08 (ii) Email ticket number; FL754/22/76 (iii) Lotto Code Number: FL09622UK (iv) Ref Number: L/07/736207147/UK Above all, you are required to fill out the Claims Verification form below and send it to the Fiduciary Agent 1.Name............................2.Address......................... 3.Age...............................4.Sex.............................

Anti-fraud resources: