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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: vaxfoundationsa@webmail.co.za
Date: Wed, 06 Jul 2005 12:02:03 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE A WINNER

SUBJECT: THIRD CATEGORY WINNER
FROM: THE LOTTERY COORDINATOR, INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
REFERENCE NUMBER: EG-A718-2 BATCH NUMBER: 224-DA)

After a successful completion of the third category draws of
VAX FOUNDATION LOTTERY, held on 27TH of JUNE 2005, we are pleased
To inform you of the official announcement today that you have emerged
One of the winners of the VAX FOUNDATION LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS, which is part of our promotional draws. Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 names/email addresses of
Individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia,
Canada, Europe, Middle East, and New Zealand as part of our International
Promotions Program.
You/Your Company, attached to ticket number 714-5-9827, with serial
Number 14-83 drew the lucky numbers 03, 15, 23, 25, 35, 40, (30),
and consequently won in the Third Category. You have therefore been
Awarded a lump sum pay out of US$1,900,000.00 in cash, which is the
Winning payout for third category winners. This is from the total
Prize money of US$5,200,000.00 shared among the eight international
Winners in the Third category.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now deposited with VAX FOUNDATION CLAIMS DEPARTMENT Insured in your name. To avoid mix up of numbers and names of any
Kind, we request that you keep this award strictly from public
Notice until the entire process of transferring your claims has been
Completed, and your funds remitted to your account. This is part of our
Security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by
Participants of this program.
We also wish to bring to your notice our end of year (2005) high
Stakes where you stand a chance of winning up to US$1.3 billion; we hope
That with a part of your prize you will participate.
Please contact your claims agent with the information below immediately to begin your claims
Process;

MR.VUYO MAGENI,
CLAIMS DEPT. MANAGER,
VAX FOUNDATION CLAIMS DEPARTMENT
TEL/FAX: + 27 11 507 6402
EMAIL:vaxfoundationclaimsdept@hotmail.com

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