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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: dutchunio@handbag.com
Reply-To: dutchunion@netscape.net
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 15:24:04 +0200
Subject: DUTCH UNION INTERNATIONAL

DUTCH UNION INTERNATIONAL
FROM MR. STEVE BROWN.
(LOTTERY COORDINATOR)


Dear Sir/Madam,


We are pleased to inform you that as a result of our recent lottery
draws held on the 23th of March 2005. Your e-mail address attached to ticket
number 27522465896-532 with serial number 652-662 drew lucky numbers 7-14-18-23-31-45,which
consequently won in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved for
a lump sum pay out of 4,000,000 (Euros) (Four Million Euros only)

Note that all participants in this lottery program have been selected randomly
through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 companies and 30,000,000
individual email addresses from all search engines and web sites. This promotional
program takes place every year, and is promoted and sponsored by eminent
personalities like the Sultan of Brunei, bill gates of Microsoft Inc and
other corporate organizations. This is to encourage the use of the Internet
and computers worldwide.

For security purpose and clarity, we advise that you keep your winning information
confidential until your claims have been processed and your money remitted
to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claims and
unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. We look forward to
your active participation in our next year USD50 million slot.

You are requested to contact our Lottery coordinator below to assist
you with your winnings and subsequent payments. All winnings must be
claimed not later than one month after the date of this notice. Please note,
in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to quote
your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.

Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as
soon as possible. Congratulations once more and thank you for being part
of our promotional program.
NOTE: YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED IF YOU ARE BELOW 18 YEARS OF AGE.

Sincerely yours,

MR. STEVE BROWN.
(LOTTERY COORDINATOR)


___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
Cheap flights - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/flights/
Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/





___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
Cheap flights - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/flights/
Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/



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