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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: "Mrs. Rebecca Newton" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrkwameosafoo@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 08:41:18 -0700
Subject: Re: You Have Won [From: Powerball Lottery Inc.]

Dear Lucky Winner,

It is our pleasure to bring to your notice that your e-mail address has subsequently won you the sum of $945,000.00 (Nine Hundred And Forty-Five Thousand United

States Dollars) in the just concluded Powerball International Lottery Online Promo 2014. Be informed, that all participant where selected through our automated

computerized balloting system drawn from over [50 million] e-mail addresses of companies, corporate bodies and individuals from Canada, Australia, United

States, Asia, Europe, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, South America and Middle East as conducted annually.

Meanwhile, since your e-mail address falls within the Category "B" Winners, which means that your winning details falls within our West African Regional Centre in

Ghana, hence, your cash prize of $945,000.00 USD will be processed and released to you through our accredited and assigned paying bank in Ghana. To file for

claims, you are required to contact our representative in Ghana ( Mr. Kwame Osafo ) who is the Fiduciary Claims Agent, with his contact details below:-

Name: Mr. Kwame Osafo
E-mail: mrkwameosafoo@gmail.com

Congratulations!

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Rebecca Newton
(Online Co-ordinator)
Powereball International Lottery.

Anti-fraud resources: