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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: "Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <oasagent4@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2017 17:59:23 -0800
Subject: Congratulation !!!You Won

> Dear Sir/Madam,
> On behalf of the International Lottery Association, we the Board of Directors are happy to inform you of the release of our Mid-Year result from International Lotto program held on the 4th of June 2017. This result was initially delayed due to mix up of numbers and email-addresses, the result was finally released on 23rd Dec 2016, and Your email attached to ticket number EWS/7302984899127-003 with serial number ES/22932034-48437 drew lucky numbers 3-11-14-29-39-48 which consequently won in the 2ND category, you have therefore been approved the winner for a lump sum pay out of $1,450.000.00 USD (ONE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) in cash accredited to file reference EWS/7302984899127-003, this is from a total cash prize of $80,000.000.00 EIGHTY MILLION DOLLARS shared among the nineteen international winners in this category.
> CONGRATULATIONS!!!
> Your fund is now deposited with the paying Bank. In your best interest to avoid mix up of numbers and emails of any kind, we strongly request that you keep the entire details of your award strictly from public notice until the process of transferring your claims has been completed, and your funds remitted to your designated account of your choice, Banker's Draft/Certified Cheque can be received only on demand. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants/non participants of this program. Funds are now scheduled to be paid out immediately in one lump sum.
> Please contact our International Lottery OSA Agent now to begin your claim:
> **************************************************************************
> Name: Mr. Ben Johnson
> Email: oasagent4@gmail.com
> **************************************************************************
> Your win ranks sixth biggest on International Lottery rich list and is the third Lottery Jackpot to be won here this year. Finally, all winning must be claimed within 41 days from the date of this notice. All unclaimed funds after the date stated will be cancelled as unclaimed funds and no further reminder will be considered.
> Congratulations once again and we hope this amazing prize will make a huge difference in life.
> Best Regards,
> Philipp Forster
> PROMOTIONAL MANAGER

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