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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: "el gordo la_primitiva" <info@elgordopromo2005.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 10:56:03 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION CONTACT CLAIMS AGENT IMMEDIATELY


C\ Don Jaime I nº11 2º
50.003 Zaragoza
España

Ref: EAASL/941OYI/02/SHYN
Batch: 12/25/0034
Dear Lucky Winner,

RE: BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual
final draws of EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA HIGH-STAKE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
PROGRAM.

The online Cyber Lotto Email draws was conducted by a random selection of
email addresses from an exclusive list of 500,000 E-mail addresses of
individuals and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random
computer search from the internet. However, no tickets were sold but all
email addresses were assigned to different ticket numbers for representation
and privacy.

After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address emerged as one of
twelve winners in the first category with the following data

Ref Number: EAASL/941OYI/02/SHYN
Batch Number: 12/25/0034
Ticket Number: 025-11464992-750

You as well as the other winners are therefore to receive a cash prize of
USD$1,000,000 (ONE MILLION DOLLARS) each from the total payout.

Your prize award has been insured with your e-mail address and will be
transferred to you upon meeting the requirements, statutory obligations,
verifications, validations and satisfactory report.

To begin the claims processing of your prize winnings you are advised to
contact our licensed and accredited claims agent/security company for first
category winners with the information below:

Mr.Carl Collins
Foreign Services Manager, Payment and Release Order Dept.
ATLANTICO GROUPO SEGUIDAD S.A.
Email:agent_carl@excite.com

NOTE: All winnings must be claimed within 20 days from today. After this
date all unclaimed funds would be included in the next stake. Remember to
quote your reference information in all correspondence with your claims
agent.

You are to keep all lotto information away from the general public
especially your reference and ticket numbers. (This is important as a case
of double claims will not be entertained).

Members of the affiliate agencies are automatically not allowed to
participate in this program.

Thank you and congratulations!!!

Yours faithfully,
Smith Carpenter.
Games/Lottery Coordinator.


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