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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: info@megamillionslottery.com
Date: Thu, 19 May 2005 23:53:27 +0200
Subject: AWARD NOTIFICATION

MEGA MILLIONS LOTTERY
(Customer Services)
UNITED KINGDOM
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
19TH MAY 2005.
WINNING NOTIFICATION.

We happily announce to you the draw (#964) of the MEGA MILLIONS LOTTERY,
online sweepstakes International program held on Wednesday, May 18, 2005.Your e-mail
address attached to ticket number:56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the
lucky numbers: 30-35- 38-41- 45-48 (bonus no 46),which subsequently won you the lottery
in the 2nd category i.e match 5 plus bonus.You have therefore been approved to claim a
total sum of GBP£500,000 00 (Five hundred thousand pounds sterling) in cash credited to
file TU/9023118308/03.This is from a total cash prize of £2,000,000 shared amongst the
first four (4) lucky winners in this category i.e Match 5 plus bonus.

All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites
through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 unions, associations, and corporate
bodies that are listed online.This promotion takes place weekly.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office
in Europe as indicated in your play coupon.In view of this, your GBP£500,000 00
(Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling) would be released to you by any of our affiliated security companies.

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claim is
processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.

This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.
Please be warned.To file for your claim, please contact our security/fiduciary agent:
**************************************************************
MR.JAMES WRIGHT
FOREIGN DEPARTMENT MANAGER
SEEFFS FINANCE & SECURITY UK
TEL : +44 703 194 7135
FAX : +44 703 194 6938
Email seeffs_uk@seeffs.com
*************************************************************
Goodluck from me and members of staff of the MEGA MILLIONS LOTTERY.

Yours faithfully,
Maxwell P. Richard.
MEGA MILLIONS LOTTERY.
Sweepstakes International Program.
info@megamillionslottery.com
Open 7 days 8am-11pm.



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