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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: WATFORD LOTTERY REGIONAL DEPT <uknationallottery9534@gawab.com>
Reply-To: WATFORD LOTTERY REGIONAL DEPT <ukawardhelpdesk@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 05:12:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?Q09OR1JBVFVMQVRJT05TISEgWU9VIEhBVkUgV09OIMKjNTUwLDAwMC4wMCBQ?=
=?utf-8?B?T1VORFPigKY=?=


CONGRATULATIONS!! YOU HAVE WON £550,000.00 POUNDS…

Email account owner,

Congratulations!! We are happy to announce that you have won an email lottery
jackpot prize in our international lottery promotion.

Your active e-mail address attached to computer generated ticket number:
B55607545 4152 has won UK lottery 2nd category award prize.

Please download attached document for details: (winningnotification.doc)

Yours faithfully,

Monica Maria martins Mrs. online coordinator.
Copyright (c) 1994-2011
The UK lottery international promotion Inc.

Anti-fraud resources: