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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: "Swiss Lottery" <lottery_results@swisswinners.org>
Reply-To: helen_rbt@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 07 May 2005 14:50:35 +0000
Subject: Swiss Lottery Winning Notification

SWISS LOTTO
BUNDERSTRASSE 33
3324 BERNECK,
SWITZERLAND

Ref: SWNL/862PZQ/05/EUNL
Batch: 22/55/0014

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the SWISS LOTTERY
PROGRAM which was held on the 23 April, 2005. Due to mix up of names,
the results were finally released on 4th May, 2005.

Your Email address attached to ticket number 024-13474982-450 with
serial number 1713-05 drew the lucky numbers 5-29-26-31-18-15 which
consequently won the lottery in the 1st category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of
US$1,000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars) in cash credited to
file SWNL/942OWI/04/EUPL. This is from a total cash prize of US$50
Million dollars shared among the first fifty (50) lucky winners in this
category.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn
from 50,000 names from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North
America as part of our international promotions program which we
conduct twice every year.

This year Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever for SWISS
LOTTERY. The estimated $50 million jackpot would be the sixth-biggest
in Europe history. The biggest was the $363 million jackpot that went
to two winners in a May 2000 drawing of The Big Game Mega Millions
predecessor.
Your fund is now deposited in an offshore bank insured in your name.
Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we advice that you keep
this award from public notice until your claim has been processed and
your money remitted to your nominated bank account as this is part of
our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted abuse
of this program by the general public.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European
booklet representative office in Europe as indicated. In view of this,
your $1,000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars) would be
released to you by our affiliate bank in Europe.
Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your funds to you as soon as you make contact with her.
To begin your claim please contact your claims agent:

Mrs. Helen Roberts
Foreign Services Manager, Payment and Release Order Dept.
FINANZA DELLA TRINITÀ
Phone: +44 704 012 1903
Fax: +44 709 286 5385
Email: helen_rbt@yahoo.co.uk

Your claims agent will assist you in the processing and remittance of
your prize funds into your designated bank account. Note that all prize
funds must be claimed not later than 31 May, 2005.

After this date all funds will be returned to the LOTTERY TREASURY as
unclaimed. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,
please endeavor to quote your Reference (SWNL/862PZQ/05/EUNL) and Batch
numbers (22/55/0014) in every correspondence with your agent.


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