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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: "zedif freed" <zedif2000@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 17:19:24 +0000
Subject: Congratulations!!! Lottery Winners Results Released.

Dear Sir/Madam,
Dreamfield National Lottery
124B Arcadian Mall, Woodgreen
London, UK.

WINNING NOTIFICATION EMAIL:

Sequel to our lottery draw of which you participated either personally or
through a friend or relative on the bases of three ballot papers for a free
ballot paper, the draw has just been released having you as one of the
fifteen lucky winners in the third category out of three million
participants for the prize of £900,000.00 pounds Sterling in the third
category. However, you missed the jackpot of £2,200,000.00 (Two million two
hundred British Pounds Sterling) in the first category and the second
category of £1,500,000.00. The following are your winnings details which may
be required upon claims.

Event No: DFN/012-456-321
Winning No: WIN/457-455-566
Serial No: 0007
Draw No: 389

Your prize of £900,000.00 shall be paid in three installments of
£300,000.00 each.

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information
confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in
whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our
precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this
program.

Claim Steps:
Contact your Fiduciary Agent for your claims as he would aid you through the
process by supplying the above numbers.

Fiduciary Agent: Mr. Mason Peterson
Email address: fiduciaryagent2001@rediffmail.com

That way your winnings certificate and all other relevant
documents/paperwork can be prepared for you. Goodluck from me and members of
staff of the DreamField National Lottery.

Yours faithfully,
Spencer Cole.

Online coordinator for Dreamfield National Lottery
Dreamstakes International Program.
N.B: Please do not reply to this mail. Contact your
Claims agent immediately.

WARNING: Do not respond to any email that purport to be ours without any due
confirmation especially when you are required to pay upfront for Insurance
and Tax. The courier company is responsible for the insurance of your
winnings to the full value. And for Tax, the British Revenue Board shall
notify you to remit the Tax due to her after full payment.


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