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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: Daniel Martins <lottto2005@alvilag.hu>
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 07:23:00 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
SWEETWIN LOTTO PROMO LOTTERY, UNITED KINGDOM. INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,G.FLOOR (N. WING),ESTUARY HOUSE,PENINSULA
PARK,EXETER,EX2 7XB,UNITED KINGDOM.

Dear Winner,

REF: OYL /26510460037/05
BATCH: 24/00319/IPD

AWARD NOTIFICATION/FINAL PAYMENT NOTICE.

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today, 18th July,2005, of
Winners of the SWEETWIN PROMO LOTTERY, UNITED KINGDOM,draws held on 20th
May, 2005.

Your email address attached to ticket number 023-0148-790-459, with serial
number 5073-11 drew the lucky numbers 43-11-44-37-10-43, and consequently
won the lottery in the 3rd category.

You have therefore been approved for lump sum pay Out of (£1.500.000.00)
One Million, five hundred thousand British Pounds in cash credited to file
REF NO.OYL/25041238013/05. This is from total prize Money Of
(£25.500.000.00) Twenty-Five Million, five hundred thousand British Pounds
shared among the seventeen
International winners in this category.

All participants were selected through a computer Ballot System drawn from
25,000 email addresses from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe, North
America and Asia as Part of International Promotions Program, which is
Conducted Annually.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Due to the mix up of some numbers and addresses, we ask that you keep this
Award strictly from Public notice until your claim has been processed and
released to you.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming by
participants of this program. We hope with a part of your prize, you will
participate in our mid-year high stakes £500 Million International Lottery.

To begin your claim, please contact our Director,Claims/Remittance
Department:

Mr.Freddie Manns
Director,Claims/Remittance Department,
SWEETWIN LOTTO PROMO LOTTERY,
EXETER,UNITED KINGDOM.
Email: freddiemanns@myway.com

He will process and ensure the release of your won prize Money.

Note that all prize money must be claimed not later than 4th August, 2005.
After this date, all funds shall be returned to our treasury as unclaimed
prize money.

In order to avoid unnecessary delay and complications, please remember to
quote your Reference and batch numbers in every of your correspondence with
our payment officer.

Congratulations once again!

Yours faithfully,

Mr Daniel Martins.

Anti-fraud resources: