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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: "Helen Smith Ms" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <marvinh55@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2022 14:07:53 -0700
Subject: Lottery

AMERICAN MEGA MILLIONS LOTTERY.
17740 Preston RD, Dallas, Texas 75252.

Attention

CONGRATULATIONS: YOU WON $2,500,000.00.

We are pleased to inform you of the result of American Mega Millions Lottery, which was held earlier this month. Your e-mail address attached to e-ticket number: 25-64-46-74-11 (03-07), with Prize Number (match 8): 0073627169 drew a prize of $2,500,000.00. (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand, American Dollars Only) This lucky draw came first in the 4th Category of the Sweepstake.

You will receive the sum of $2,500,000.00 from our authorized bank. Because of some mix-up with sweepstake prizes, including the limited time placed on the payment of your prize of $2,500,000.00 we advice that you keep all information about this prize confidential until your winning prize of $2,500,000.00. (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand, American Dollars Only) have been transferred to you by the authorizedpaying bank. You must adhere to this instruction, strictly, to avoid any delay with the release of your winning to you in person. This program has been abused severally in past, so we are doing our best to forestall further occurrence of false claims.

This sweepstake was conducted under the watchful eyes of 8,000 spectators. Your e-mail address attached to e-ticket number: 25-64-46-74-11 (03-07), was selected and; it came out first by an electronic-ballot draw from over 250,000 e-mail addresses (personal and corporate e-mail addresses). This program is sponsored by CFI to compensate faithful internet suffers around the globe. Congratulations for becoming one of the few lucky winners.

With your permission, your e-mail will also be included in the next sweepstake of 200 Million American Dollars. You must claim your prize: $2,500,000.00. Not later than 7-days from the moment you receive this e-mail. In order to avoid unnecessary delays with your claim from thebank; please contact your claim agent below, and quote your winning and personal information now, and in all your correspondence with the claims agent. Here is the contact information:

Claim Agent:

Name: Heinrich Marvin
E-mail: marvinh55@yahoo.com
Lottery Claim Agent


Furnish them with the following:

VERIFICATION FORM:

1.) FULL NAME:

2.) AGE:

3.) SEX:

4.) ADDRESS:

5.) ZIP/POSTAL CODE:

6.) STATE/PROVINCE:

7.) COUNTRY:

8.) PHONE:

9.) OCCUPATION/POSITION:

10.) COMPANY:

11.) EMAIL ADDRESS:

12.) E-TICKET NUMBER:

(Including amount won and how you intend to receive the amount you won).

Failure to provide the above details might result to the disqualification of your winning so kindly adhere to the simple
instructions

Congratulations.

Yours Faithfully

Helen Smith (Ms.) CPA.
Coordinator: American Mega Millions Lottery.

Anti-fraud resources: