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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: "BRIDGET ANITA." <bridgetanita@mail2world.com> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 19.37.36 +0200
Subject: Reply Fast Pls.

DATE: 1St June,2005.
FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
THE NATIONAL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
(LONDON) UNITED KINGDOM.
BATCH: EGS/ 22504002/04: REFERENCE: 15/0018/IPD
ATTENTION: CONGRATULATIONS!
DEAR,
RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION.
This is to inform you of the release of THE NATIONAL LOTTERY
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS PRIZE DRAW, held on the 28th of February 2005,
but owing to some mix up of numbers and addresses and the holidays, the
results were released on the 31St May 2005.
Your name was attached to ticket number 085-12876077-09 with serial
number 51390-0 that drew the lucky numbers of 03-05-12-14-28-38, which
consequently won the lottery in the 5th category. You have therefore
been approved for a lump sum pay of £2,800.809.00. (TWO MILLION EIGHT
HUNDRED THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED AND NINE BRITISH POUNDS ONLY), in cash
credited to file with REF: Nº.EGS/3662367114/13. This is from a total
cash prize of £70,020.225.00, shared among the (25) twenty-five
international winners in this category.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Your fund is now deposited with our Security Company and insured in
your name. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you
keep this award from public notice until your claim has been processed,
and
the money remitted to your account, as this is part of our security
protocol, to avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking of advantage
of this program by participants, as has happened in the past.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn
from 25,000 names, email addresses & official addresses, from Asia,
Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North and South America, Middle East
and Africa, as part of our International Promotions Program.
We hope your lucky name will draw a bigger cash prize in the subsequent
programs. To begin your lottery claims, please contact your Claims
Agent,
MR. MARK HALL,
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER,
GLOBAL SECURITY & FINANCE COMPANY UK,
EMAIL: globalsecfinancecompany02@yahoo.com <mailto:globalsecfinancecompany02@yahoo.com>
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 30th June 2005.
Any claim not made by this date will be returned to the DEPARTMENT OF
THE TREASURY. And also be informed that 10% of your lottery winning
belongs to (the PROMOTIONS COMPANY). Because they are the company that
bought your ticket and played the lottery in your name. Note also that
this 10% will be remitted after you have received your winnings prize,
because the money is insured in your name already.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all
correspondences with us; or your Claim Agent. Furthermore, should there
be any change
of address, please do inform your Claim Agent as soon as possible. An
original copy of your lucky winning ticket and your deposit certificate
will be sent to you by your Claim Agent, MR MARK HALL.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Once again from all members of our staff and thank
you for being a part of our International Promotions program. We wish
you continued good fortunes.
Sincerely,
BRIDGET ANNITA.(MRS.)
VICE PRESIDENT,
E-MAIL: bridgetanita@mail2world.com <mailto:bridgetanita@mail2world.com>


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