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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: roy_ukstakeholder@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 09 Jun 2005 18:46:14 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

UK-STAKE NATIONAL LOTTERY
184 WESTINGFIELD DRIVE,S.W 4TH,
P.O.BOX 1010
LIVERPOOL,
UNITED KINGDOM.
Ref: UK/9410R2/03
Batch: 12/28/DM32
WINNING NOTIFICATION
We announce to you the draw (#938) of the UK Stake draw/Promotions held today, the 9th of June 2005 in Liverpool UK, THE UNITED KINGDOM INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMES, Your email address was attached to ticket number 36475600545-187UK, with serial number 9318/14 drew The lucky numbers 18-06-20-14-64-11-05, and consequently Won you the lottery in the 2nd category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay Of 500,000.00 British Pounds(GBP) in cash credited to file REF NO. Ref: UK/9410R2/03. This is from total prize money Of 2,000,000.00 British Pounds(GBP) shared among the four International winners in this category.
All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Website through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 email addresses as part of International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually. 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 500,000.00 British Pounds(GBP) would be released to you by our preferred payment center in London.
Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the Release of your funds as soon as you contact him. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims 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 by some unscrupulous people.Please be warned.
As part of the lottery programm, to avoid Double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants Of this program. all winning funds are deposited safe in a security Banking firm here in England.
To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary claim Agent;
Mr.ROY MARTINS
Email:roy_ukstakeholder@yahoo.co.uk
Claim/agent incharge.
UK-STAKE NATIONAL LOTTERY
For due processing and remittance of your prize Money, please remember to quote your Reference and batch numbers in every one of your Correspondences with your agent.
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than the 5th of JULY 2005.
After this date, all funds will Be returned as unclaimed.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
promotional lottery program.
Sincerely,
Dr Paul White
Zonal Co-ordinator
www.national-lottery.com

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