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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: "The Mega Millions Lottery" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <msalice739@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 2013 03:15:09 -0700
Subject: RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION

The Mega Millions Lottery
California Lottery District Offices
San Francisco
820 Dubuque Avenue
South San Francisco, CA 94080
http://www.megamillions.com/numbers/
 
RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION
 
Good day
 
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today winners of Mega Millions as part of our first half of the year bonanza.
Your name/email address is attached to ticket number 034-1416-4612-750, with serial number 6521-11 drew the lucky numbers 7 10 30 37 53 1, and consequently won the lottery in category C.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1.2Million in cash credited to file REF: EKS255125600304. This is from total prize money of US$29.9Millions shared among 14 winners in this category. All participants were selected through a computer email balloting system drawn from 25,000 names from Middle East, Asia, Africa, Canada, Europe and North America and Oceania as part our International Promotions Program, which is conducted Monthly
CONGRATULATIONS!
To file for your claim, please contact our paying bank on the information stated below.
 
Bank of New York Mellon
Headquarters Address.
One Wall Street New York, NY 10286
Contact person: Mr. Steve Hayes-Allen
Regional Head of operations
The Bank of New York Mellon
 
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 29th of Oct 2013 .After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence. Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program. Note: Anybody under the age of 16 is automatically disqualified.
Yours Sincerely,
Ms. Alice Jen.
For Management
The Mega Millions Lottery.

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