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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: james smile <megadraw@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 18:40:01 +0100
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION!

PRIME LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
XMAS LOTTERY PROMOTION
Customer Service
17-19 cole Street,
baines Middlesex TW18 4TP
United Kingdom.

Ref: LSUK/2031/8161/04
Batch: R3/A312-59

WINNING NOTIFICATION:

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today 18TH DECEMBER, 2004
of winners of the International Prime Lottery xmas lottery promotion . You /
your company's e-mail address, attached to ticket number 41423313541 24,
with serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers 37-13-34-85-56-42, and
consequently won in category C (third category).

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of US$2.500.000.00 in
cash credited to file REF NO. REF: PLI/4080318306/04. This is from total
prize money of US$15,000,000.00 shared among the six(6) international
winners in the category C. All participants were selected through a computer
ballot system drawn from 30,000 names from Australia, New Zealand, America,
Asia, Europe,USA and North America as part our International Promotions
Program, which is
conducted annually.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your fund is now deposited with a Finance and Security House 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. We hope with a part of you prize, you
will participate in our end of year mega/ high stakes US$1.3 billion
International lotto.
To begin your claim, please contact your claims officer immediately:

BARRISTER OSWALD COOKS

Email:marshal_hamilton@yahoo.co.uk

Provide him with the information below:
1.Name:

2.Address:

3.Marital Status:

4.Occupation:

5.Age:

6.Sex:

7.Nationality:

8.Country Of Residence:

9.Telephone Number:

10.Fax Number:

11.Draw Number above:

12.company/brief description:

For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated
account of your choice. Remember, you must contact your claims officer not
later than 2 (two) weeks after this date, all funds will be returned as
unclaimed.All correspondences to BARR.MARSHAL HAMILTON, by email, should
have this email sent along with it and also, your email address to which
this email is sent, should be clearly and boldly written in your response.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference number in every one of your correspondences
with your officer. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address,
do inform your claims officer as soon as possible.

Note: Anybody under the age of 18! is automatically disqualified..
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our
xmas promotions program.


Yours Sincerely,

SIR HJ LEEDS

The Director Promotions,
Prime Lottery International.

_________________________________________________________________
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