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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: "FACEBOOK AWARD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <feedbackunit_facebook@zoho.com>
Date: Fri, 10 May 2019 00:50:11 -0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!!!

FACEBOOK ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
CATEGORY: 2ND
 
 
CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!!!
 
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded Final
draws held on the (1st May 2019) by Facebook group in cash Promotion to
encourage all Facebook users worldwide, your Name was among the 50 Lucky
winners who won $600,000:00 USD.(Six Hundred Thousand Dollars) each on
the Facebook group promotion Award Attached to Ticket Number
(5647600545189) and Lucky Number (2551256002/244) Serial Number
(55643451907).
 
You are required to contact our dispatch dept via email (
feedbackunit_facebook@zoho.com ) and re-confirm your Award Attached,
Ticket Number, Serial Number, Full Name, Contact Address and Cell Phone
Number for further instructions.
 
Mr William Buchwald
Fiduciary/Claims Agent

Anti-fraud resources: