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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: "UK TIMES" <uktimes001@msn.com>
Reply-To: uktimeslotto@sify.com
Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2005 01:45:45 +0000
Subject: GOOD NEWS

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
UK TIMES LOTTO PROMO LOTTERY,
UNITED KINGDOM.PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT 21-25 GRASSMARKET,
EDINBURGH EH1 2HS 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, 15th August 2005, of
Winners of the UK TIMES 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 Dire ctor, Claims/Remittance
Department:

Mr. Tim Sawyer
Director,Claims/Remittance Department,
UK TIMES LOTTO PROMO LOTTERY,
EDINBURGH, NITED KINGDOM.
Email: tims@london.com

He will process and ensure the release of your won prize Money. Note
that all prize money must be claimed not later than 30th 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,
Ms Vanessa Smith.
The Promotions Manager,
UK TIMES LOTTO PROMO LOTTERY,
EDINBURGH, UNITED KINGDOM.


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