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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: Koshima@web.de
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 20:09:30 +0100 (CET)
Subject: =?UTF-8?Q?"YOUR_E-MAIL_ADDRESS_HAS_WON,_=E2=82=AC3,?=
=?UTF-8?Q?750,000.00_EURO_CONGRATULATIONS""?=

  YOUR WINNING NOTIFICATION:
REF No: 575061725
WINNING No: KB8701
TICKET No: 275-189-657-23-05
SERIAL No: 8756-05
BATCH No: 8056490902
BONUS NO: 16G/10G/GHM
AMOUNT WON (€3,750,000.00 EURO)
 
 
"YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS HAS WON, €3,750,000.00 EURO CONGRATULATIONS""
 
Dear Winner,
 
We are pleased to inform you about the Lottery payment approval we received from the Freelotto Lottery programmed to pay you the sum of €3,750,000.00 EURO. According to the Freelotto board, your e-mail emerged as a winner of €3,750,000.00 EURO (Three Million, Seven Hundred and fifty Thousand EURO) in these years Freelotto lotto program.
 
I HAVE BEEN APPROVED AS YOUR LOTTERY AGENT WITH MY FULL CONTACT BELOW.
 
CLAIMS AGENT AT: Email (herbertwigwe@switched.com)
Telephone: +234 80-35410859
Agent Name: Mr. Herbert Wigwe
Region: African Representing Lottery Agent.
 
Fill this form below and send it to him through his email to file for your claim (herbertwigwe@switched.com)
 
FULL NAME
HOME ADDRESS
RESIDENTIAL COUNTRY
NATIONALIT
OCCUPATION
TELEPHONE
RELIGION
EMAIL
AGE
SEX
 
Signed.
 
Lottery Co-ordinator

Anti-fraud resources: