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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" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <facebooklottery2012@ymail.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Mar 2013 11:14:59 -0800
Subject: Congratulation Facebook USER

Facebook Lottery Redemption Office
1435 12th St. Dr. N.W. Apt-A10,
Hickory, North Carolina. USA
+18284148452
Winner,
Facebook wish to congratulate and notify you that you have won the sum of $3,500,000.00 USD on the
facebook user lottery.
This notification email should be your confidential property to avoid impersonators claiming your lottery.
You will be furnished with the lottery remitting Bank information to contact and claim your fund as soon
as you acknowledge receipt of this notification with an obvious proof of your sincere identity.
Name:
Address:
Mobile phone number:
When your identity is confirmed, you will have to open an account with our partnering Bank for easy
remittance of your lottery funds.
Yours faithfully,
Richard Edsall
Coordinator Facebook Lottery

Anti-fraud resources: