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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: "WhatsApp Admin" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <whatzpp2020@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2020 05:19:26 -0700
Subject: Your attention is needed

WhatsApp Admin
 
Congratulation
 
WhatsApp Admin
 
Congratulation
 
Your email has won $1 million United States Dollar ($1,000,000) in the 2020 WhatsApp lottery and you are expected to claim it as quickly as possible or your lottery will be transferred to the second runner up.
 
Its a way to appreciate your commitment to WhatsApp and the impression you have given other people about WhatsApp.
 
For Security reasons your winning number is (WHTZPPX9) please keep this information very confidential to avoid being hunted by hoodlum when you finally claim your winning.
 
To claim your winning,
 
(1) Your Name
(2) Your Address
(3) Age
(4) Your country
(5) Copy of your passport/driving licenses / ID Number
(6) Your winning number
(7) Your Telephone numbers
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
WhatsApp Admin

Anti-fraud resources: