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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: "FREE LOTTO" <freelotto@iol.pt>
Date: Mon, 2 May 2005 16:53:33
Subject: PRIZE WINNER!!!

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
FREE LOTTO INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS
PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
CALLE LOPEZ DE HOYOS 213, 28003 MADRID,SPAIN.

*************************************************
CREDIT FILE NUMBERS
Ref. Number:NIL/67-B931062538
Batch Number:17/9803/5
*************************************************

RE: AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION: FINAL NOTICE.


We are pleased to inform you officially of the announcement today of
winners of the MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS, PROGRAMS held on 31st
march 2005.Your company or your personal e-mail address, is attached
to ticket number 8976-2312-908-765, with serial number 2323-56 drew
the lucky numbers 367-21-546-43-02-91, and consequently won the
lottery in the second category.MARCH 2005.
You are therefore, been approved to claim a total sum of
€860,750.00euros (Eight hundred and sixty thousand seven hundred
and fifty euros only) in cash credited to file Number:TCL06/01/767/35ES
.This is from a total cash prize of €34,430.000 million euros,
amonge the first 4th lucky winners in this category.
Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn
from 25,000 names/email addresses of individuals and companies from
Australia,New Zealand,America, Europe, North America and Asia, as
part of International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.

Your fund has been deposited in an escrow account and insured in your name.
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 money remitted to your account.This is part of our security
protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program. We hope with a part of your prize, you will participate in our year high stakes US$100. Million International Lottery.To claim your winning prize, you must first contact the claims department by email:
**************************************************
Mrs. Floyed Gray.
Email:floyed2@walla.com
**************************************************

For processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated
account of your choice. Remember, all prize money must be claimed not
later than a week of receiving this notification.All funds not claimed
on or before this time will be returned as unclaimed. NOTE: In order to
avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote
your reference and batch numbers telephone and fax numbers in all
correspondences with this office.
Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform us as
soon as possible.
Congratulations again from all our staff for being part of our
promotions program.

Sincerely,
Mrs Laura Ruiz Adolfo
For Free lotto



N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will
result to,disqualification Anybody under the age of 18 cannot
participate in this program,Do not reply to this mail contact your
claims department for your claims.


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