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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: "customerservice@yahoo.googlemail.org" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <arthurspencer006@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:08:46 +0100
Subject: Microsoft, Yahoo and Google Lottery Promotion.

MICROSOFT YAHOO GOOGLE LOTTERY PROMOTION North London Business Park (NLBP) Oakleigh Road South, London, N11 1NP United Kingdom. Dear Lucky Winner, We happily announce to you the result of the Microsoft, Yahoo and Google Lottery draws held on Saturday 1st of August 2009, Lotto 6/49 in Essex, United Kingdom. All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draws system and extracted from over 100,000.00 companies and personal e-mail addresses. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: B9564 7560 with serial number 046560 drew the winning numbers 6 7 14 16 17 27 Bonus 32. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of ?550,000.00 (FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING) in cash credited to file EAAL/9080118308/08. To file for your claim, please contact your corresponding Fiduciary Claim Agent (Mr. Arthur Spencer) urgent release of your fund. Contact information is as follow: Mr. Arthur Spencer Email: arthurspencer006@hotmail.co.uk Tel: +447024047708 Endeavour to submit the below information’s as stated below to enable Mr. Arthur Spencer process your winning. 1. Full Name: 2. Full Address: 3. Marital Statue: 4. Age: 5. Sex: 6. Nationality: 7. Tel. Number: - 8. Country of Residence. ***Due to possible mix up of some numbers and email contacts, we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by some participants of this program. *** Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this Lottery program. Yours Sincerely, Microsoft, Yahoo and Google Lottery Promotion **Customer Service**

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