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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: freedomlotto_south@pochta.ru
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 10:11:53 +0200
Subject: ++WINNING NOTIFICATION++


FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: ZAR/23457677/2004
BATCH: 11/576809/KC/MFP

RE/AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE

We wish to inform you of the lottery draws held on
24th March,2005, to declare the winners of the FREEDOM LOTTO SOUTH
AFRICA/INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS.

Your company, attached to ticket number
356-00098-3211-222, with serialnumber 818-09 drew the lucky numbers
14-41-25-19-49-37, and consequently won the lottery. You have therefore
been
approved for a lump sum pay out of $500,000 in cash credited to file
ref
number: ZAR/23457677/2004 and
batch number: 11/576809/KC/MFP.

You are among the six international winners in this category. All
participants were selected through a
computer ballot system drawn from 17,000 names from Australia, New
Zealand,
America, Europe and Middle
East and Asia as part of our International Promotions Program, which is
carried out quarterly.


Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this
award
strictly from public notice until your
claim has been processed and your prize money remitted to your account.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or
unscrupulous acts by participants of this
promotion. We hope with a part of your prize, you will participate in
our
end of year high stakes.

We have deposited your prize money of $USD500,000(Five hundred thousand
united states dollars)
with the paying finance/security company and is now available for
claim.

To begin your claim,please contact:

MR.THEMBA NDLOVU
(FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER)
MIDWAY FINANCIAL HOLDINGS LTD.,
PHONE:+27-736-670-362
EMAIL:midwayholdings@zwallet.com

You are expected to provide the following details below to your claims
agent:

1) BATCH AND REFFERENCE NUMBERS
2) FULL NAMES
3) AGE
4) MAILING ADDRESS
5) PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS


Note: All prize money must be claimed not later than 4th April,2005.
After this date,all funds will be returned as unclaimed.

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


Sincerely,
Susan Cotze.
Promotions Manager



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