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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: collierspromo@mail2southafrica.com
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2005 02:23:46 +0200
Subject: Prize WInning Notification

FROM: THE LOTTERY COORDINATOR, INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
ATTENTION: (REFERENCE NUMBER: CRP-789IN4-04 BATCH NUMBER: 564-QL45)

THIRD CATEGORY WINNER

After a successful completion of the third category draws of the COLLIERS SWEEPSTAKES SPECIAL, held on 2ND FEBRUARY 2005, we are pleased to inform you of the official announcement today that you have emerged one of the winners of the COLLIERS SWEEPSTAKES SPECIAL 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/Your company, attached to ticket number 777-78-1105, with serial number 234-90 drew the lucky numbers 12, 24, 38, 99, 32, 40, (18), and consequently won in the Third Category. You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of US$2.8,000,000.00 in cash, which is the winning payout for third category winners. This is from the total prize money of US$112,010,000.00 from which eight international winners in the Third category will be shared.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your fund is now deposited with COLLIERS 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 transferring your claims has been completed, and your certified banker's Cheque sent to you. 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 new year (2005) high stakes where you stand a chance of winning up to US$1.1 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. EDWARD MAKAZIWE.
SENIOR CLAIMS EXECUTIVE,
COLLIERS FINANCE & INSURANCE LTD.
PHONE: +27 73 5688862
FAX: +27 73 5688863
EMAIL: edwardmakaziwe@netscape.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 receiving 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: CRP-789IN4-04
BATCH NUMBER: 564-QL45

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

Sincerely,
JENNIFER COETZEE
THE LOTTERY COORDINATOR,
COLLIERS SWEEPSTAKES SPECIAL.
COLLIERS BUILDING,
AUCKLAND PARK, JOHANNESBURG.
SOUTH AFRICA.

N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification. Please do not reply to this mail. Rather, contact your claims agent whose credentials are listed above. All staff of Colliers finance and Insurance and members of their family as well as South Africans are barred from this lottery.

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