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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: "Lopez Vigoureux" <lopezvigoureux@netscape.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: perrysmith_1@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 16:48:18 +0200
Subject: Re:contact.

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: OYL /26510460037/02
BATCH: 24/00319/1PD
ATTENTION:

RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement
today,20th may 2005, of winners of the FORTUNE GATE PROMO
LOTTERY,
BELGIUM/ INTERNATIONAL, PROGRAMS held on 14th May 2005 Your
name is attached to ticket number 023-0148-790-459,
with serial number 5073-11 drew the lucky numbers 43-11-44-37-10-43,
and consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of
US$650,000.00 in cash credited to file REF NO.
OYL//26510460037/02
This is from total prize money of US$80,400,000.00 shared among the
all the international winners in this category. All
participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn form
47,000 names from Australia,New Zealand, America, Europe, North America and Asia as part of International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now deposited with a Security company 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 that with a part of you prize, you will participate in our end of
year high stakes US$1.3 billion International Lottery.
To begin your claim, please contact your claim
agent; Mr Perry Smith:email:perrysmith_1@yahoo.com

FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
For due processing and remittance of your prize
money to a designated account of your choice.
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later 7th June 2005.After
this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your
correspondence with your agent.
Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your
claims agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part
of our promotions program.
Sincerely,
LOPEZ VIGOUREUX.
THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
FORTUNEGATE PROMO LOTTERY,
BELGIUM.
N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of
the winners will result to disqualification.



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