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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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Fraud email example:

From: citiworldnet@excite.co.uk (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2005 15:23:21 +0100
Subject: hello

CITIZEN WORLD NETWORK NV.
INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTION
PRIZE AWARD.
HAARLERBERGWEG 15-18
10101 CH AMSTERDAM
REF:OGS/881477142/07 BATCH: 02/1469/IPPA/CGN
Dear Sir/Madam,
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 1st Febuary, 2005.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 7721662341-31121 with
serial
number 1756-533 drew lucky numbers 6-42-14-11-81-41 which consequently
won
in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum
pay out
of US$1, 500,000.00(One Million,Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your
winning
information confidential until your claims has been processed and your
money
Remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double
claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn
from
over 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and names
from
all over the world. This promotional program takes place every year.
This lottery was promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like
Mr.
Bill Gates and the sultan of Brunei, we hope with part of your winning
you
will take part in our next year USD50 million International Promotion
lottery. To file for your claim, please contact our fiducially Agent:
Dr. Richard Parry.
Foreign Operations Director,
Email:richp@epatra.com
Telephone:+4915205361312
Remember all winning must be claimed not later than 28 Febuary, 2005.
after this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake.
Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications
endeavor
to quote your reference and batch numbers in
all first correspondence. Furthermore, should there be any change of
address
do
inform our agent as soon as possible. We hope with part of your winning
you
will take part
in our next year 30 million dollars international lottery.
Congratulations!!!
Once more from our members of staff, we thank you for being part of our
promotional program.
Note: anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Monica Gate
Secretary
NB: We are very sorry for the delay!!!




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