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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Sarah Gwan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mailtowilliamdavis@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2017 11:26:19 -0500
Subject: End of Year Promotion....Congrats

Dear mr/mrs/sir/mandam:
 
This is to inform you that your email address has won the Lotto24 Email Megapool lottery in the ongoing end of year promotion which was held last week.Your email with serial number 588988/02 and ticket number:564 75600545 9188 hit the jackpot.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of $960,000.00(Nine Hundred and sixty Thousand Dollars) in cash credited to file PC/9080118308/02/SHYN. This is from a total cash prize of $9.8 Million Dollars shared among the first fifty (12) lucky winners in this category.
 
In the 2nd category you are advised to keep this notice to yourself because of double claims.If by any chance a second cliam is filed with you winning information the prize funds will be voided.You are advised to contact with your claims Officer with your NAME, D.O.B and Mobile tell# Occupation# to e-mail ID: mailtowilliamdavis@gmail.com for more details on claims procedure within 72 hours of reading this mail.
 
Yours faithfully,
Mrs.Sarah Gwan
AFRO-ASIAN Zonal Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources: