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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Australia Lottery System Inc." <australialottery@mails.de>
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 23:48:06 +1200
Subject: Claim your prize.

Australian Lottery. NSW Lotteries Corporation, 2 Figtree Drive, Homebush Bay NSW 2127 Dear Sir/Madam, CONGRATULATIONS: YOU WON €2,000,000.00. This is to inform you of the result of Australian Lottery, which was held on the 26th, August 2006. Your e-mail address attached to prize winning number: 648 2 3 16 34 36 42 45 and supplementary number: 37 38 drew a prize of €2,000, 000.00 (Two Million Euros). This l ucky draw came first in the 2nd Category of the Sweepstake. You will receive the sum of €2,000,000.00 (Two Million Euros) from our authorized bank in Netherlands. Because of some mix-up with our sweepstake numbers and prizes, plus the time limited placed on the payment of your prize: €2,000, 000.00, we advice that you keep all information about this prize confidential until your funds: €2,000,000.00 have been transferred to you by the authorized bank in The Netherlands. You must adhere to this instruction, strictly, to avoid any delay with the release of your funds to your person. This program has been abused severally in past, so we are doing our best to forestall further occurrence of past mix-ups. This sweepstake was conducted under the watchful eyes of 16,000 spectators. Your e-mail address attached to prize winning number: 648 2 3 16 34 36 42 45 was selected and; it came first through a "SPECIAL" e-ballot draw from over 450,000 e-mail addresses (personal and corporate e-mail addresses). This program is sponsored by NSW Lotteries 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 $9Million. You must claim your prize: €2,000,000.00 not later than 10-days from the moment you receive this e-mail. In order to avoid unnecessary delays with your claim from our authorized bank; please contact them immediately, and quote your winning and personal information now. Here is their contact information: Bank: Deutsche Ambro Bank. Contact person: Joseph Hawkins. Manager: Interest Rate and Currency. Tel: 0031 616 293 431. Fax: 0031 847 134 206 . E-mail address: deutscheambbank@aim.com Furnish them with the following: (i). your name(s), (ii) Your telephone and fax numbers (iii) Your contact address (iv) Your winning information (including amount won). Congratulations. Yours to serve, Jean-Claude Chirane. Director: Australian Lottery.

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