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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: "lottery winner" <euromillons@operamail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 17:12:08 +0100
Subject: contact your agent

LOTTERY PRIMITIVA & APUESTAS DEL ESTADO
CALLE AROYO NO. 13 PISO 4G
28030 MADRID ESPAÑA..

FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
BATCH: EGS/22504002/03 , REFERENCE:15/0018/IPD
DATE: 12th JULY 2OO5
ATTENTION:SIR/MADAM
RE:AWARD NOTIFICATION.
This is to inform you of the release of the LA PRIMITIVA
LOTTERY held on the 23 june 2005 Due to the mix up of numbers,
address and the holidays, the results were released on the 1st july
2005
Your name attached to ticket number, 50745-0 with serial number
168-07632472-034 drew the lucky numbers of 07-08-10-28-46-49 which
consequently won the lottery in the 6th category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of Euros
505.639.00)(five hundred and five thousand, six hundred
and
thirty nine euros )in cash credited to file with REF. NO.
EGS/3662367114/13. This is from a total cash prize of Euros
18,693,642,00)
Shared among the twenty three 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 money
remitted to your account as this is part of our security protocol to
avoid
double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of this program by
participants as it has happened in the past.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn
from
(six million) names from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North
and
South America, Middle East and Africa as part of our International
promotion
program. We hope your lucky name will draw a bigger cash prize in the
subsequent programs.
To begin your lottery claim, please contact your claiming agent,Mr.JOSE
MIGUEL,Foreign operation manager LA PRIMITIVA LOTTERY
on Tel:+34-654-183-040 or via email: lottery_2005@operamail.com for the processing
and remittance of your winning prize money to a designation of your
choice..
Remember,all prize money must be claimed not later than 30th july 2005.
Any claim not made before this date will be returned to the
MINISTERIO
DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA.And also be informed that 10% of your Lottery
Winning
belongs to (IBERO PROMOTION COMPANY).Because they are the promotion
company
that bought your ticket and played the lottery on your name,this ten
percent
will be remitted after you have received your winnings 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 every correspondence with
us or
your agent.Furthermore,should there be any change of address,do inform
your
claims agent as soon as possible.An original copy of your prize Winning
Certificate will be sent to you after you have claimed your
winning.Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and
thank
you for being part of our International promotion programs. We wish you
continued good fortunes.
Sincerely,
Mr. ANTHONIO GOMEZ,
VICE PRESIDENT



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