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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: SWISS-LOTTO PROMO <notifications@swissloto.ch>
Reply-To: <westbrownagent@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 22:35:23 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU HAVE WON USD$1,000,000.00

CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU HAVE WON USD$1,000,000.00
SWISS-LOTTO PROMO
101 WIGMORE STREET LONDON,
GREATER LONDON WIU,
UNITED KINGDOM
www.swissloto.ch

As part of our Lottery Awareness Bonanza for year 2014,Today being 1st April 2014 we just carried out “active email addresses” computer draws in some regions. Note that the computer draws were based strictly and randomly on active email addresses of users that never played our lotteries this year.

Your email address was amongst those chosen this year for the Swiss-lotto Satellite lottery. And this promotional program is proudly sponsored by the Swiss-lotto organization.

You have won one Million USA dollars (US$1 Million) only. Your email address attached to Ref number 5, 7, 14, 17, 18, 43 with Serial 10, and consequently won the lottery in the "A" Category. You have therefore been approved the lump sum pay out of USD$1,000,000.00. Winning Number: MML-43668 drew the lucky.

This makes you an international winner in your region. For details, guidance and processing of your payment, please contact the Claims/Processing Officer,

Mr. West Brown by email immediately (quoting your winning number,ref.number,serial number and personal claims).

Agent name: Mr.West Brown
Email: westbrownagent@yahoo.com.hk
Email: westbrownagent@gmail.com
Tel: +447045718306

These details facilitates the due process and the release of winnings to avoid unnecessary delays and complications in the processing of your Winnings.

Note: all winnings must be claimed before the 30th April 2014 otherwise all funds will be returned as Unclaimed and eventually donated to charity organizations.

Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Sarah Van Norris
Online Games Director

Anti-fraud resources: