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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 LOTTERY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <flottery@yahoo.it>
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2013 08:10:41 -0500
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!

FACEBOOK ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
CATEGORY: 2ND

CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual Final draws held on the (1st January 2013) for this NEW YEAR by Facebook group in cash Promotion to encourage the usage of Facebook users worldwide, your javascript:void(0) Name was among the 20 Lucky winners who won $600.000.00USD (Six Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) each on the Facebook group promotion Award Attached to ticket number (5647600545189) and Ref No (2551256002/244) Serial Number (55643451907).

The online draws was Conducted by a random selection of emails, you were picked by an Advanced automated random computer search from the Facebook in order To claim your $600.000.00USD the lottery program which is a new innovation by Facebook is aimed at saying A BIG THANK YOU to all our users for making Facebook their number one means to connect, communicate, relate and hook up with their families and friends over the years.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants and Scam artists All participants selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 companies' and 30,000,000 individuals' email addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every three years. You have to be Rest assured that this is Real and Legitimate and there are Some Scam artists around...Thanks to the FBI...216 of them have been arrested... The software corporation to encourage some few individuals with website and email addresses promoted this lottery.

Your name was selected in a raffle that was made 1st January 2013 so we need your fast response so that we can proceed with the delivery of your fund.

You are required to contact our dispatch dept via email (facebook_lottery@rocketmail.com) with information below in order for us to complete your winning certificate and for further information
regarding the disbursement of your lottery win.

FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:
NATIONALITY / COUNTRY:
TICKET NUMBER:
REF NUMBER:
SERIAL NUMBER:
YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS:

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all correspondences. Furthermore, if there is any change in email address please contact us on time

Note: Do not reply to these Face Book Account for security purpose reply to the payment department in charge and if you are not interested please do not bother to reply.

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN FROM FACEBOOK!

Regards,
Patrick Widen
Promo Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources: