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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: "Dr. Lisa Antonio F. Castillo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsrogers@sify.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2011 19:04:21 -0700
Subject: Re: HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU

Sir,
 
Your winning fund $250,000 USD dollars has been approved and signed for immediate release to you within 48 hours. Then you are to contact Mr. George Wilson for immediate release of your fund with below details:
 
Mr. Helen Rogers
Email: mrgeorgewilson204@rediffmail.com or mrsrogers@sify.com
 
However, you are required to reconfirm your details Fax: 1-253-390-7037 or Email: mrgeorgewilson204@rediffmail.com.
 
The needed information’s is asked below:-
 
NAME:..............................
AGE:...............................
SEX:...............................
ADDRESS:...........................
EMAIL:.............................
DIRECT PHONE:......................
OCCUPATION:........................
COMPANY:...........................
COUNTRY:...........................
Copy of Your International Passport or Driver's license.
 
Finally I would like to hear from you as soon as possible with the required information, so that we can complete this process immediately. Again we have three ways of paying you either by bank to bank transfer, ATM card payment or by Draft so you have right to chose.
 
Thanks
Dr. Lisa Antonio F. Castillo
Tel/Fax: 1-253-390-7037

Anti-fraud resources: