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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: ego_lotto_20@handbag.com
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2004 03:12:31 -0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

FROM: THE LOTTERY COORDINATOR,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT

ATTENTION:THIRD CATEGORY WINNER

After a successful completion of the third category draws of EGOLI LOTTERY,
held on 25TH JUNE 2004, we are pleased to inform you of the official announcement
today that you have emerged one of the winners of the EGOLI LOTTERY/INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAMS, which is part of our promotional draws.

Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000
names/email addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America,
Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and New Zealand as part of
our International Promotions Program.

You, attached to ticket number 714-5-9827, with serial number 14-83 drew
the lucky numbers 03, 15, 23, 25, 35, 40, (30), and consequently won in
the Third Category.You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of
US$1,900,000.00 in cash, which is the winning payout for third category
winners. This is from the total prize money of US$5,700,000.00 shared among
the three international winners in the Third category.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your fund is now deposited with COMET FINANCIAL SERVICES, insured in your
name. To avoid mix up of numbers and names of any kind, we request that
you keep this award strictly from public notice until the entire process
of transfering your claims has been completed, and your funds remitted to
your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming
or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program.

We also wish to bring to your notice our end of year (2004) high stakes
where you stand a chance of winning up to US$1.3 billion, we hope that with
a part of your prize you will participate.

Please contact your claims agent immediately,to begin your claims process;

MR. TREVOR McCARTHY,
CLAIMS DEPT. MANAGER,
COMET FINANCE & INSURANCE LTD.
FAX: +27 827075275
EMAIL: tmcc2004@cfiltd.net


For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account
of your choice. Remember, you must contact your claims agent within a week
of recieving this mail.

NOTE: To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to
quote your reference and batch numbers provided below in every one of your
correspondence with your claims agent.

REFERENCE NUMBER: EG-A718-13
BATCH NUMBER: 224-DA

Congratulations once again from all our staff and thank you for being part
of our promotions program.

Sincerely,
THE LOTTERY COORDINATOR,
EGOLI LOTTERY SA.
#7 LE-ROUX AVE,
ALBERTON, JHB.
SOUTH AFRICA.
Fax: +27826401382

N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result
to disqualification. Please do not reply to this mail. Contact your claims
agent.




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