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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: "Euromilliones lottery" <eurolotto@mixmail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 00:33:39 +0200
Subject: Euromilliones Lottery Notification

EUROMILLIONES INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAM
(TEL.: +34-619-201-153 FAX: +34-654-924-666)
TO THE MANAGING DIRECTOR:
FROM: THE DESK OF PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
REF: OYL/34890003476/07
BATCH: 65/00319/IPD
We happily announce to you the draws of the Euromilliones International Lottery programs held on the 11th of July, 2005 here in Madrid Spain, in which you and five (5) provisional winners were selected as winners under draw No. 6078-22. Your address attached to ticket number: 056- 0148-876-132 drew the lucky numbers: 65-12-32-33-21-46, which subsequently won you the lottery. All participants were selected randomly through computer ballot draw system and from 5,000 companies. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of €1,549,790.41 (One million,five hundred and forty nine thousand seven hundred and ninety and forty one cents) as your winning prize. This is from a total prize pool of €5,748,952.05 Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our Europe payment office in Madrid as indicated in the results. In line with this, your €1,549,790.41 will be paid to you upon confirmation and clarifica!
tion by our payment office in Madrid,Spain.
Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your winnings as soon as you contact them. Do please quote your Batch,Serial,Draw, Reference,Ticket and Winning numbers in any correspondence with our designated agent. Please include your telephone number(s) when contacting the agent Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program and thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program. Sincerely yours CARLOS SANCHEZ (Mr.) Results Coordinator.
N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to Disqualification. Contact your claim agent. Also you are automatically disqualified if you are below 18 years of age. Contact your agent immediately through email first or call to confirm.
CONTACT: MR.CARLOS SANCHEZ
Tel.: +34-616-679-868 FAX: +34-654-924-666
EMAIL:eurolotto@mixmail.com


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