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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: "Mr.Timothy J. Sloan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <timothysloan892@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:11:19 -0700
Subject: Reference of your lottery winnings

Wells Fargo Bank
100 Park Ave, New York, 10017 USA
Email;timothysloan892@aol.com
Tel ; 1-646-875-5290
 
Attn; Your long overdue lottery payment
 
Your long overdue lottery payment valued 3,000.000 USD, From National UK
Lottery 1010 Liverpool, UK, London United Kingdom has been received by our
bank on Monday July 7th, 2014. And will be sent to you via ATM visa/
Master card.
 
Reference of your lottery winnings,
 
Ticket no 057299401
Winning no UK405590
Serial no 1243220029
Total amount won==  $3,000.000usd
Taxes and bank commissions = $30,000 USD
Total deduction =30,000 USD
Balance==== $2,970,000 USD
 
Please reconfirm your information;
1. Your Full Name; ......................
2. Your current address; ............................
3. Your phone number; ....................................
4. Nearest airport to your location .....................................
5. Your Occupation; .......................................
via this email; (timothysloan892@gmail.com), or call; 1-646-875-5290 to enable wells
Fargo bank send your Certificate of Irrevocable payment Guarantee, And your
ATM visa card directly to you, while your four(4) digit pin code will be
given to you as soon as we hear from you.
 
Congratulations
 
Best Regard,
Mr.Timothy J. Sloan
Chief Financial Officer, Wells Fargo Bank

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