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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: bramex.rzeszow@neostrada.pl
Reply-To: cynthiaferguson2010@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:38:07 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS




Free Lottery Sweepstakes
PO Box 42 Peterborough
SE15 2UD
UNITED KINGDOM

The UK Free Lottery wishes to inform you that the results of the E-mail address ballot lottery international program held recently. Your email account has been .picked as a winner of the sum of £500.000.00(G.B.P) Please contacts your Claims Agent for further instruction of the release of your winning.

******************************************
Name of Claims Officer: Mrs. Cynthia Ferguson
Email address: cynthiaferguson07@hotmail.com
*******************************************

VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM

1. FULL NAMES.
2. ADDRESS.:
3. CITY.:
4. STATE.:
5. POSTCODE.:
6. COUNTRY.:
7. SEX.:
8. AGE.:
9. OCCUPATION.:
10.TELEPHONE NUMBER:

Yours Sincerely,
Mr.Greg Smith.
Online Coordinator,
FREE LOTTERY SWEEPSTAKES.



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