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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: lotteryintl@webmail.co.za
Date: Sat, 02 Apr 2005 04:41:40 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS, CLAIM YOUR LOTTERY WINNINGS

OVERSEAS STAKES LOTTERY,
INTERNATIONAL, SOUTH AFRICA.
OFFICE: 8-10 FREE-TOWN AVE,
PLOT: 328 REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA.

REF NUMBER:OSL/653/! 029/03
BATCH NUMBER:AT-040-SB06-03


CONGRATULATIONS!!!

DEAR WINNER




We are pleased to inform you, that as a result of our recent lottery
draw Held on 30TH DECEMBER, 2004. Your email address attached to ticket
number 27522465896-532 with serial number 652-662 drew lucky number
7-14-18-23-31-45, which consequently won 2nd category. You have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of R15, 000,000.00
(FIFTEEN MILLION SOUTH AFRICAN RAND).

PLEASE NOTE:

ALL participants in this lottery program have been selected randomly
through a computer ballot system drawn from over 60,000 companies and
100,000,000 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, Donald Trump of Trump Intl, Multi Choice and several
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 this year USD50 Million
slot. You are requested to contact our clearance officer below to assist
you with your winning and subsequent payments. All winnings must be
claim not later than one month after the date of this notice.

Also note, in order to avoid unnecessary delay and complications
remember to quote your reference numbe! r and batch numbers in all
correspondences.

Furthermore, should there be any change of addresses 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
25 YEARS OF AGE.

Sincerely yours,

Mr. Patrick Masinga
(Regional Promotions/Claims Manager)

TEL: 27 839 820 957
FAX: 27 732 742 076


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