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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: "Free Award Lottery" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <claimsfor2011@live.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2011 13:28:15 +0100
Subject: PRIZE NOTIFICATION!

Attention: Dear Winner
 
This is to formally congratulate you for been one of our winners in this year FREE AWARD LOTTERY that took place in UK on the 12th of August 2011 held by FREE AWARD LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL one of the world most reputable on line lottery organization under the sponsorship of OPEC. Your email address attached to PIN NUMBER: 95911 and lucky ball number, which subsequently won you the lottery in the FIRST CATEGORY.
 
                                     YOUR LUCKY BALL NUMBER
                                  02    08   09     11    13    16    36
You have therefore been qualified for a lump sum payout Of 10,000,000.00(Ten Million United State Dollars) in a certified cheque, as the sole beneficiary. The prize has been insured with a hard cover INSURANCE POLICY called the IRREVOCABLE GUARANTEE BOND, which makes the prize NON-DEDUCT ABLE.
Due to mix up of some email and winning numbers, we advise all winners to keep this information Confidential from the public until your claim has been processed and your prize released to you. This is Part of our security protocol to avoid on line impersonation.
Eight Winners were selected on line from millions of email address worldwide. Your email was among the lucky eight winners from the draws CONGRATULATIONS ONCE MORE! 
  
WARNING: All winners are to claim their winning prize in not later than Four (4) weeks. Any winner who abuse this privileged will be disqualified
To file for your claims and process the immediate release of your winnings prize, please kindly complete the claim processing form below
CLAIMS PROCESSING FORM
FIRST NAME......................... LAST NAME..............................
NATIONALITY.........................................................................
OCCUPATION:........................................................................
SEX........................................................................................
AGE.............................(below 18 disqualified automatically)
IDENTIFICATION................(scanned copy of International Passport/Drivers license)
RESIDENCE ADDRESS............................................................
ZIP/POSTAL CODE.................................................................
TELEPHONE NUMBER........................................... 
The Free Award lottery company is proudly sponsored by OPEC and it is organized to encourage the use of computer which encourages assessment of information and also bring unity among citizens of the world that we can make it a global village. We are proud to say that over 500 Million Dollars is won annually worldwide.
CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE MEMBERS AND STAFF OF FREE AWARD LOTTERY COMPANY.
 
Yours faithfully,
Dan Mark Freewill
Information Department
Email: claimsfor2011@live.com

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