Like many millions of other email users out there, you’re probably familiar some way or another with 419 Nigerian fraud. You’ve probably seen a Nigerian email in one of its many different variants filter through to your email inbox or junk mail folder. 419 Nigerian fraud, or Advance Fee Fraud, most prolifically takes on the classic wealthy businessman variation, which promises several million dollars dumped into your bank account from some deceased businessmans banker or solicitor in Africa , providing your pay some sort of fee upfront, of course.
Not all 419 Nigerian fraud is that easy to spot however, and one particular variation that comes increasingly popular during the run up to Christmas is the 419 Christmas lottery scam. For the unaware and uninformed, receiving an email confirming you’ve won hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars is the perfect way to catch someone’s attention. After all, 5.6 million USD might just come in handy over the festive period!
These types of scams prey on people who need money, and the Christmas period provides many such people who may be willing to believe stories they normally wouldn’t do any other time of the year.
So this is why we will see a surplus of apparent Christmas lotteries and sweepstakes filling our inboxes, trying to dupe people into biting.
Remember, even if the initial email asking you to “confirm” your winnings doesn’t mention fees or charges, follow up emails certainly will, and can range from courier fees, security clearance fees, handling fees, release fees and even bribes!
Examples this December include the Coca-Cola Zero Lottery and the Nigerian Xmas Lottery sweepstake.
Remember this – you cannot win lotteries you have not entered, and no credible lottery notifies its winners via email, much less requires upfront fees to collect winnings.
For our full article on advance fee 419 fraud and its many variants and methods of spotting it, click here.
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