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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: "larry edward" <mr_larry_edward15@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2005 02:01:13 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATION YOU HAVE WON AN INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PRIZE AWARD

DATE: 18TH OF JUNE 2005

FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.

WORLD INTERNATIONAL NATIONAL PROMOTIONS ORGANIZATION
PRIZE/AWARD.

BATCH: EGS/ 22504002/03: REFERENCE: 15/0018/IPD

ATTENTION: CONGRATULATIONS!

RE: PRIZE/AWARD NOTIFICATION.

This is to inform you of the release of WORLD
INTERNATIONAL NATIONAL PROMOTIONS ORGANIZATION PRIZE
DRAW, held on the 5th of April 2004, but owing to some
mix up of numbers and addresses and the holidays, the
results were released on the 21st of December 2004.

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 beenapproved for a lump sum pay of
2.000,000.00. (TWO MILLION BRITISH POUNDS ONLY), in
cash credited to file with REF: N.EGS/3662367114/13.
This is from a total cash prize of 70,020.225.00,
shared among the twenty-five international winners in
this category.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Your fund is now deposited with our Bank/Security
Company and insured in your name. Due to mix up of
some numbers and names, we ask that you keepthis 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 our Co-ordinator, MR.WILLIAMS
WALTER, EMAIL: williams_walter_winpromoaward@hotmail.com


Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later
than 31st of july 2005. Any claim not made by this
date will be returned to HER MAJESTYS 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,
Furthermore, should there be any change of address,
please do inform our Co-ordinator as soon possible.

An original copy of your lucky winning ticket and your
deposit certificate will be sent to you by
Administrative Remittance Operation Manager of Bankers
Bank Inc London-United Kingdom.

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,
DR. LARRY EDWARDS.
VICE PRESIDENT


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