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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: "Lottery House" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lothou512@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 19:07:33 +0100
Subject: From Mrs.Ken Obiorah Desk.

From Mrs.Ken Obiorah Desk.
 
WINNING NUMBERS:37-13-43-85-67-11.BV
 
REF:S6376527711
 
BATCH:S7151085135
Attn: WINNER,
 
We are please to announce to you as one of the 10 lucky winners in National the Free Lotto draw held on the 2nd FEB 2011. All 10 winning addresses were randomly selected from a batch of 50,000,000 International emails. Your email address emerged alongside 9 others as a category one winner in this year's Annual FreeLotto Draw. Consequently,you have therefore been approved for a total pay out of $1.500,00USD(one million, Five hundred Thuosand (Dollars only)CONGRATULATIONS!!! Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money Remitted to you. please Call or email our fiduciary agent with the below details for processing of your claims:
 
NAME:DR FRANK WILLIAMS.
(CHIEF FINANCIAL DIRECTOR
NATIONAL LOTTERY NIGERIA LTD.)
EMAIL:( lothou512@gmail.com  )
 
Remember, all winning must be claim there fund not later than 15th FEB 2011.After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake.Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and Complications please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Ken Obiorah.
AFRO-ASIAN Zonal Coordinator.
 

Anti-fraud resources: