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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: "edmon.b@w.cn" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <edmon.b@w.cn>
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2011 13:53:42 +0800
Subject: CONGRATULATION!!!!

LOTERIA NACIONAL
PLAZA ROMANO NO 19, 5
28011, MADRID SPAIN.
 
Attention: Beneficiary
 
We hereby inform you that your email which was selected through a computer random process has won on the Loteria nacional promotional program held on June 18, 2011 in the third category.
 
Your winning sum is €935,470 (Nine Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy Euros) in cash credited to file REF NO: APT/589036789. CONGRATULATIONS!
 
Please note that your reference number is the key to your funds, you are to keep this confidential until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your account as this is part of our protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking of an advantage of this program by participants.
 
To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent Dr. Luis Garcia the Foreign Service manager of VITALICO SEGUROS S.A on Email: edmon.b@w.cn. for processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice.
 
Remember all prize money must be claimed not later than July 18, 2011. After this date, all funds will be returned to the Ministerio De economia y Hacienda as unclaimed. Also for your information, 5% of your prize money belongs to your claim agent as a part of their commission.
 
This commission will be paid to VITALLICO SEGUROS S.A only after you have received your fund in your designated account.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delay and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every of your correspondence with us or your agent.
 
Congratulations again from all members of our staff and thank you for being a part of our promotion program.
 
Sincerely,
Edmon Brown

Anti-fraud resources: