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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: "Asia Pacific Lottery Organization" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info@asiapromotion.net>
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2012 04:44:34 -0700
Subject: ...winner...

Dear Winner,
 
Are you the correct owner of this email address? If yes then be glad this
day as the result of the ASIA PACIFIC 2012 online e-mail address
free-ticket winning draws of  2012 has just been released and we are glad
to announce to you that your email address won you the sweepstakes in the
first category and you are entitled to claim the sum of one Million USA
Dollars. "Your Email Address" was selected through a computer balloting
system drawn from Nine hundred thousand Emails from Canada, Australia,
United States, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Oceanic as part of
our international promotions program which is conducted annually.
Your email address was entered for the online draw on this ticket
#:085-12876077-09 and won on this Winnings #: 03-06-08-10-12-16-27.
 
To apply for claims,fill the verification form below and return.
 
VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM
------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Full name:...................................
2. Residential Address:
...........................................................
3. Sex:......................
4. Age: .........................
5. Telephone Number: ............................................
6. Occupation:.....................................................
7. Country:..................................
8. Date of notification of winnings: .......................................
9. Lucky NO: .......................................................
10. Ticket No:
..............................................................
 
Announcer !!!
 
Dr. Helen Chew
Asia Pacific Lottery Organization
70/1-4 soi Petchburi 15
Petchburi RD.
Phayathai BKK. 10400
Thailand.
 

Anti-fraud resources: