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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: donalddavis@tiscali.co.uk
Date: Thu, 26 May 2005 06:17:57 -0700
Subject: INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT. (YOU ARE A WINNER!!!)

GRAND UNIVERSAL PROMO
10 NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE,
LONDON, THE UNITED KINGDOM.
FROM: THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
REF: GUPL/67-AO91652004

WINNING NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today, 26th of May
2005, of winners of the GRAND UNIVERSAL PROMO held on 6th of April
2005.
Your email address was attached to ticket number 13-2316-5086-477; with
serial number A025-09 drew the lucky numbers 37-13-34-85-56-87, and
consequently won in category A. You have therefore been approved for a
lump sum pay out of US$1,000,000.00 in cash credited to file REF
NO.GUPL/67-AO91652004.
This is from total prize money of US$3,000.000.00 shared among the
three international winners in the category A.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn
from 100,000 companies/individuals from Middle East, Australia, New
Zealand, America, Asia, Europe and North America as part of our
International Promotions Program,which is conducted annually.

CONGRATULATIONS!

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 you prize, you will participate in our end of
year high stakes US$10Million international lotto.

To begin your claim, please respond back to your claims agent;
Anthony Rumsfeld
anthonyrumsfeld@uk2.net


He will brief you on steps to be taken for due processing and
remittance of your prize money. Remember, you must contact him using
his mailing address not later than two weeks after this date or funds
will be returned as unclaimed.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference number in every one of your
correspondences.

Ticket number 13-2316-5086-477
Serial number A025-09
Lucky numbers 37-13-34-85-56-87
File REF NO. GUPL/67-AO91652004

Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part
of our promotions program.

Sincerely,
Mr.Donald Davies
THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,
GRAND UNIVERSAL PROMO

___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
Cheap flights - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/flights/
Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/



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