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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: Facebook Online Computer Balloting Sweepstakes <facebookonline@accountant.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2012 20:47:22 +0100
Subject: YOU HAVE WON!


*FROM: THE DESK OF THE NOTIFICATION DEPARTMENT*
*FACEBOOK ONLINE SWEEPSTAKES PROMOTION.*
*
*
*
*
*Dear Lucky Winner, *
*
*
*We are happy to announce to you the results of the Facebook Online
Sweepstakes Computer Balloting Promotions *
*as you have emerged as one of the 20 winners of £500,000.00 (Five hundred
thousand British pounds).*
*
*
*This is a new system initiated this year in which our computer balloting
system selects users from the world wide web*
* via facebook at random and automatically selects winners in an automated
balloting system as part of our new initiative*
* to reward ardent and loyal users of facebook.*
*
*
*The draws of this international promotion program is conducted every 3
months.*
*
*
*To file for your claim, please contact our/your fiducial agent:*
*
*
*Name: Barrister Robert Cole*
*Email: robertcole.qc@lawyer.com*
*
*
*
*
*Please always quote your reference, batch and winning numbers which can
be found below:*
*===========================================================*
*Ref No.: 435062725*
*Batch No.:7050470902/189*
*Winning No.:FB8101/LPRC*
*Your phone number:*
*Your full name:*
*Amount: £500,000.00*
*============================================================= *
*
*
*Your winnings claim is valid for only 2 weeks hence you are expected to
file for your claims immediately.*
*
*
*To avoid double or wrong claims, you are advised to keep this information
confidential until you have *
*received your winnings.*
*
*
*Once again congratulations!!!*
*
*
*Thank you.*
*
*
*Sincerely,*
*Mrs. Judith Kimberly*
*Coordinator,Facebook Online Computer Balloting Sweepstakes.*

Anti-fraud resources: